Exploring the Role of Metacognitive Accuracy in Visual Search

Although visual search performance has been studied extensively, metacognitive accuracy in visual search has gone unexplored. Data regarding metacognitive accuracy in visual search are important to both applied research (e.g., Do people know when search will be difficult?) and basic research (e.g., What properties affecting performance are people aware of ?). Set size and search asymmetry were explored in a metacognition paradigm. Prior to a visual search task, participants rated multiple search scenes in terms of their predicted search speed and their accuracy in discerning the presence of the target. A second cycle of rating and searching yielded information on the influence of practice on performance and metacognitive accuracy.