An increase in the proportion of valid trials in the context of the spatial cueing paradigm increases the magnitude of the cueing effect. This proportion valid effect is widely interpreted to reflect a form of control. Specifically, it is argued that participants strategically allocate attention as a function of the spatial predictivity of the cue. Here I develop an alternative explanation of the proportion valid effect, the compound-cue frequency account, which does not require control. According to this account, the cue-target event forms a compound-cue and the proportion valid manipulation produces a disparity in the frequency with which particular compound-cues occur. Specifically, when the proportion of valid trials is increased, the frequency of valid cue-target events increases and the frequency of invalid cue-target events decreases. Frequency of occurrence has long been known to be negatively correlated with response times. Thus, increasing the frequency of valid trials relative to invalid trials (i.e., the proportion valid manipulation) should produce a larger cueing effect. No control is required. I report five experiments, the results of which are taken as support for the proposed account. Discussion focuses on the strengths and weaknesses of the compound-cue frequency account and implications for further research on visual attention and cognitive control.
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