AQA · A-Level · Physical Education
Course version: 7582 · Version from Sept 2016
Input – selective attention
Full specification wording
Efficiency of information processing to include:: Input – selective attention
Selective attention filters out irrelevant environmental stimuli to focus on relevant cues at the input stage of information processing.
Checked against the AQA 7582 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 29 of 30
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Selective attention filters out irrelevant environmental stimuli to focus on relevant cues at the input stage of information processing. Because the brain has a limited processing capacity, performers face constant sensory information. Selective attention prevents information overload by ensuring only vital cues, such as the flight of a cricket ball, enter the short-term memory, while ignoring distractions like crowd noise. Efficient selective attention reduces reaction time and improves decision-making accuracy. It can be developed through practice with distractions, mental rehearsal, and highlighting specific cues. Improving this filtering mechanism allows performers to process information efficiently and execute skills effectively.
What earns the marks
- Selective attention is the filtering of irrelevant stimuli to focus on relevant cues at the input stage.
- Efficient selective attention speeds up information processing and reduces reaction time.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Stating that selective attention involves ignoring all information.
Put it right: It involves actively selecting relevant cues while filtering out irrelevant ones.
Placing selective attention at the output stage.
Put it right: It occurs at the input stage, between sensory memory and short-term memory.
Assuming sensory memory has a limited capacity.
Put it right: Sensory memory has a very large capacity but brief duration; it is short-term memory that has limited capacity.
Exam tips
- Always link selective attention to the prevention of information overload and limited processing capacity of short-term memory.
- Provide a clear sporting example, contrasting a relevant cue (e.g., the ball) with an irrelevant distraction (e.g., the crowd).
- Explain how efficient selective attention directly decreases reaction time and improves decision making.
Try the lesson
The start of the Efficiency of information processing to include:: Input – selective attention lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
During a basketball game a player must focus on the ball and the nearest opponent while ignoring the crowd. What is this filtering of relevant information called?
Listen
Selective attention filters out irrelevant environmental stimuli to focus on relevant cues at the input stage of information processing. Because the brain has a limited processing capacity, performers face constant sensory information. Selective attention prevents information overload by ensuring only vital cues, such as the flight of a cricket ball, enter the short-term memory, while ignoring distractions like crowd noise. Efficient selective attention reduces reaction time and improves decision-making accuracy. It can be developed through practice with distractions, mental rehearsal, and highlighting specific cues. Improving this filtering mechanism allows performers to process information efficiently and execute skills effectively. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Selective attention is the filtering of irrelevant stimuli to focus on relevant cues at the input stage. Efficient selective attention speeds up information processing and reduces reaction time. A common slip: Stating that selective attention involves ignoring all information. Instead, It involves actively selecting relevant cues while filtering out irrelevant ones. Exam tip: Always link selective attention to the prevention of information overload and limited processing capacity of short-term memory.
See it
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Selective attention
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Information processing
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Reaction time
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Memory models
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See every definition
- Selective attention
- The filtering of irrelevant stimuli to focus on relevant cues at the input stage of information processing.
- Information processing
- Processing that begins with input, where selective attention filters out irrelevant environmental stimuli to focus on relevant cues.
- Reaction time
- A measure that is reduced when selective attention is efficient, speeding up information processing.
- Memory models
- Models in which sensory memory has a very large capacity but brief duration, while short-term memory has limited capacity.
Label the diagram
Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.
1Box 1
2Box 2
3Box 3
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