The invention provides a method of generating an adaptive partial report for an observer with an apparatus comprising a display, a user interface, and a processor. The apparatus can be a computer system or an electronic device, for example. The method includes the processor characterizing an iconic memory decay function for the observer. The characterization includes determining a prior for a plurality of parameters. The method further includes the processor determining a first stimulus for a first trial based on the prior for the plurality of parameters, the display generating the stimulus for viewing by the observer, the user interface receiving input for the first trial and in response to the stimulus, the processor revising respective parameter values for the parameters based on the received input, and the processor determining a new stimulus for a next trial based on the revised parameter values.