Holistic and analytic modes of processing: the multiple determinants of perceptual analysis

Abstract

With the use of the criterion of privileged axes, a set of experimental studies establishes that analytic processing of saturation and brightness, prototypical integral dimensions, does sometimes occur. Still, it is less frequent and less successful than analytic processing of separable dimensions. The studies identify several factors that influence whether or not analytic processing occurs. Among them are the following: (a) stimulus factors, in addition to the choice of dimensions (e.g., the magnitude of dimensional differences); (b) task factors (e.g., the degree to which analytic processing is encouraged by instructions or by implicit task demands, the amount of time available for processing); and (c) subject factors (e.g., the amount of experience that the perceiver has had with the stimuli in tasks that encourage stimulus analysis).