Definitions of Selective Attention


The following definitions are ordered by their degree of complexity, from the simplest to the most complex.

1.   Zaltman, Gerald and Wallendorf, Melanie:
    "Selective attention is the process which occurs when a person listens to or watches some messages and ignores others (  )."

2.  Britt, Steuart Henderson:
    "Selective attending refers to the choosing of a smaller number of stimuli from a larger array of stimuli in the environment (  )."

3.  Silverman, Julian:
    "Selectiveness of attention refers to responses which determine which elements in a stimulus field exert a dominant influence on the perceiver (  )."

4.  Wilkie, William L.:
    "While selective exposure vastly reduces the range of stimuli available to a person, it does not decide which remaining stimuli will be perceived.  This is determined by selective attention (  )."


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