How would you define a rotation error in Symbol Search?

In the context of Symbol Search, a rotation error refers to a situation where a participant identifies a symbol that is a rotated version of the target symbol. This means that the symbol has been turned or positioned differently than the target, but retains its basic shape and features. Recognizing a rotated symbol can indicate a participant's ability to manipulate visual information spatially, which is essential in tasks that measure attention and processing speed.

The other options describe different types of visual discrepancies: a symbol that is correctly oriented would not qualify as an error, a mirror image represents a reflection rather than a rotation, and a symbol unrelated to the target would indicate a recognition error rather than a rotation error. Thus, understanding the specifics of rotation errors helps clarify the participant's strengths and weaknesses in visual-spatial processing.