Terms of debate: Consensus definitions to guide the scientific discourse on visual distraction
archive: archived pipeline: cataloged verified
Get this paper ↗ (DOI — opens at the source; we link to it, we don't host it)
Summary
This tutorial review addresses the lack of consensus regarding terminology in the field of visual distraction, a subfield of visual search research. The authors argue that inconsistent and idiosyncratic definitions of central terms hinder scientific communication, theoretical progress, and interdisciplinary exchange. To resolve this, an international group of experts with diverse theoretical stances engaged in an adversarial collaboration to establish consensus definitions for the most relevant terms in the literature. The goal was to replace habitual, unprincipled usage with disciplined, precise definitions that facilitate clear communication and serve as a reference for both experts and newcomers. The methodology involved extensive discussions among the expert group to identify heterogeneity in term usage and align definitions across different theoretical positions. The paper presents the outcomes of these discussions in two main parts: a series of essays providing context for clusters of related terms, and a comprehensive glossary of central terms. The authors focused on terms central to theorizing visual distraction, providing both conceptual and operational definitions. Where applicable, they also explained how constructs are measured or manipulated. The paper acknowledges potential risks, such as the "calcification" of definitions limiting the scope of future research, but argues that a standardized vocabulary is necessary to distinguish linguistic misunderstandings from genuine theoretical discrepancies. The findings are presented as a standardized taxonomy covering clusters such as stimuli, features, tasks, paradigms, templates, types of distraction, priority maps, guidance, modulation, and timing. Key distinctions include defining "stimulus" as a single item within a search array, differentiating "target-defining" from "search-guiding" features, and clarifying the difference between absolute and relative features (e.g., salience). The authors also distinguish between "distractors" (irrelevant stimuli with potential to attract attention) and "nontargets" (homogeneous background stimuli). Specific paradigms, such as the additional-singleton and spatial-cueing paradigms, are defined with their core manipulations and comparisons. The glossary provides precise definitions for terms like "attentional capture," "filtering costs," and "priority map," often including synonyms and measurement methods. The significance of this work lies in its provision of a common language for the visual distraction community, which should facilitate communication across theoretical standpoints and improve the design of future empirical studies. By clarifying definitions, the paper aims to help researchers distinguish between mere linguistic issues and actual theoretical disagreements. Additionally, it serves as an accessible entry point for novices, explaining central concepts, measurement methods, and current theoretical stances. The authors propose that this model of adversarial collaboration to establish consensus definitions could serve as a template for other fields in psychological research seeking to build a solid groundwork for theorizing and communicating.
Provenance
The full processing record for this entry. Every stage of this paper's journey through the pipeline is logged — what ran, with which tool and model, how many attempts it took, and when it last completed.
| Stage | Outcome | Tool | Model | Prompt | Attempts | Completed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| discover | success | OpenAlex-citations | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-17 |
| archive | success | openalex | — | — | 5 | 2026-06-25 |
| extract | success | cached | — | — | 2 | 2026-06-25 |
| clean | success | clean | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-18 |
| chunk | success | chunk | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-18 |
| embed | success | embed | Qwen/Qwen3-Embedding-8B | — | 1 | 2026-06-18 |
| promote | success | — | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-17 |
| summarize | success | llm | qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant | summ-v5 | 1 | 2026-06-25 |
| tag | success | vector_similarity | — | — | 6 | 2026-06-18 |
| verify | success | — | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-26 |
Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-25; verification: verified.
Topics
Ranked by relevance to this paper. Hover a topic for its definition.
Information type
What kind of knowledge this paper contributes, grouped by family — independent of topic (what it is about) and method (how it was studied).
- Theoretical Contribution: conceptual framework