How long does the Visual Search Test take?
About 5 to 7 minutes, as listed in the test library.
Attention
Visual Search Test
Measure search efficiency, target-present accuracy, target-absent cost, and set-size slopes in the browser.
Useful for visual attention, perception, aging, fatigue, usability, and intervention studies.
Free to start: 10 free participants per account, then $0.99 per participant for academic research, or any yearly plan. Preview any test free after you sign up.
Attention5-7 minTimed: desktop or laptop with a mouse or trackpad
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Target presentSet size 9
Search slope captured
Find the target among distractors
What this task measures
Measures selective visual attention by asking participants to detect a target among distractors across set sizes.
Core constructs
- Selective visual attention
- Search efficiency
- Target detection
- Distractor interference
Research fit
- Visual attention research
- Aging and perception studies
- Fatigue and vigilance protocols
- Human factors and usability research
Paradigm overview
Visual Search measures selective visual attention by asking participants to detect a target among distractors. Displays vary by set size and search type, allowing researchers to estimate search efficiency from reaction time slopes.
This implementation includes feature-search and conjunction-search trials, target-present and target-absent trials, and set sizes of 8, 16, and 32 by default. Scored outputs include accuracy by target status, target-absent cost, feature-search slope, and conjunction-search slope.
Key scoring outputs
Overall Accuracy
proportionProportion of scored visual-search trials answered correctly.
Higher is better
Target-Present Accuracy
proportionAccuracy when the target was present.
Higher is better
Target-Absent Accuracy
proportionAccuracy when the target was absent.
Higher is better
Feature Search Slope
ms/itemRT-by-set-size slope for feature-search trials.
Lower is better
Conjunction Search Slope
ms/itemRT-by-set-size slope for conjunction-search trials.
Lower is better
Target-Absent Cost
msMean correct target-absent RT minus mean correct target-present RT.
Lower is better when accuracy is adequate
Running this test
Settings you can change
| Setting | Standard | Allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Practice trials | 8 | 4 to 24 |
| Trials per condition | 4 | 2 to 16 |
| Response window (ms) | 5,000 | 2,000 to 10,000 |
Yearly plans can change settings within these limits. Free and pay-as-you-go studies use the standard settings.
Need a setting this test does not have?
Devices and languages
- Timed test: participants need a desktop or laptop with a mouse or trackpad. Participant devices
- Task text: English and Italian.
- Available on: Every plan, including the free plan.
- Recruiting online? See the setup guides for Prolific, Sona Systems, CloudResearch Connect and Qualtrics.
Cite this test
Paradigm source: Treisman & Gelade (1980); Wolfe Guided Search tradition.
ConductCognition versions: task version 1.0.0, scoring version 1.0.0. Every export records the versions each session used, for a methods section.
Source papers
Treisman A, Gelade G (1980). A feature-integration theory of attention. Cognitive Psychology, 12:97-136.
Paradigm sourceN/A
Wolfe JM (2021). Guided Search 6.0: An updated model of visual search.
Paradigm sourceN/A
Research FAQ
Common questions about this online cognitive test
What device does a participant need?
Timed test: participants need a desktop or laptop with a mouse or trackpad. The browser must be Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari.
What scores does it produce?
Overall Accuracy, Target-Present Accuracy, Target-Absent Accuracy, Feature Search Slope, Conjunction Search Slope and Target-Absent Cost. Each session is also marked valid, needs review or invalid, with the reason.
Which settings can a researcher change?
Practice trials (4 to 24), trials per condition (2 to 16) and response window (ms) (2,000 to 10,000). Settings can be changed on yearly plans; free and pay-as-you-go studies use the standard settings.
Which languages can participants use?
The test's own text is in English and Italian. Italian participant pages come with yearly plans.
Is this a clinical test?
No. ConductCognition is for research use only. It runs, scores and exports the test; clinical interpretation is outside the platform.
Every test: the full test list.
Run this test in your next study
Start free with 10 free participants on any test, then use participant credits or a yearly plan.