Betty A. Wieland

Repetitive psychometric measures: handedness and performance

Many investigators have reported that right-handed people perform most motor tasks better, faster, and with relatively fewer errors than do the left-handed. We found slight differences in performance on only three of the tests of the Repetitive Psychometric Measures battery—SO, SC, and FC. Some of the difference in performance may be alleviated by minor changes in instruction for left-handed Ss.

Systematic Alterations of the Apparent Centers of Lines.

Predictable stimulus-bound alterations in the apparent centers of lines were used to discriminate behavioral differences in bisection. 2 dimensions of individual differences were demonstrated in bisection that appeared to be related to cognitive control mechanisms: the well-known basic tendency for the upper segment of lines to be overestimated, and the relative influence on the apparent centers exerted by the stimulus-effects. The roles on these of minor modifications in the stimulus and of secondary factors such as practice, eye and hand dominance, sex, etc., were examined. A more basic effect was noted when the lines were bisected in a horizontal orientation—there was almost no correlation between Ss performance with vertical vs horizontal lines. Even though the two main effects noted above were still present, their measures did not correlate with those of the vertical bisection. The implications of this are discussed.

PERCEPTION OF DEPTH IN ROTATING OBJECTS: 1. STEREOKINESIS AND THE VERTICAL-HORIZONTAL ILLUSION

Os viewed under extreme reduction conditions either a rod or an ellipse as it rotated slowly (5 rpm) in the frontoparallel plane. They reported seeing a sequence of percepts of the luminous stimulus starting with veridical rotation, then expansion-contraction, and/or advance-retreat and finally ending with apparent rotation in a plane oblique to O. The percepts were the same with either monocular or binocular regard and with the head tilted 90° to the side. In the latter case, the apparent plane of rotation shifted with the head position showing that the visual field determined the effect. This stereo-kinetic effect was related to the vertical-horizontal illusion and was explained in terms of the asymmetry of the visual field.

Perception of Depth in Rotating Objects: 2. Perspective as a Determinant of Stereokinesis

10 Os viewed under extreme reduction conditions 5 simple, plane, featureless figures and an Ames trapezoidal window as they rotated slowly (5 rpm) in the frontoparallel plane. Judgments of shape, slant, and type of movement were obtained for 4-min. periods first with binocular regard and later with monocular. As more perspective cues were introduced and as viewing time increased, there were progressive increases in depth indicants with all three types of judgments.

Influence of early formal reading training on commonality of word associations in children and adults

Commonalities of word associations of children and adults were examined as a function of the elementary school grade level at which the words are formally introduced in reading training. Word introduction was found to produce associative changes in children which were reflected in the associations of adults.

The ponzo illusion: inadequacy of apparent depth explanations.

Os viewing the Ponzo figure reported a series of sudden changes in its phenomenal organization and orientation. In none of these was the vertical line nearer the vertex of the figure reported to be smaller than the vertical line nearer the open end, i.e., the illusion occurred with all percepts except a rare one of a flat stimulus. In two of the most frequent and persistent percepts, the illusion could be explained on the basis of apparent size-apparent distance relationship among the elements. This was also the case with Gregorys theory of misapplied size-constancy scaling. However, with other percepts neither of these explanations was tenable.

Extent, Direction, and Latency of Autokinetic Movement as a Function of Placement of an Adjacent Light

Four Os drew maps of their autokinetic movement for a central light when it was the only stimulus, and when another light was adjacent to it. Eight directions (at 45° intervals) at each of two distances from the central light (1.27 and 2.54 cm) were used to yield 16 different placements of the light-pairs. The addition of the second light in any placement resulted in a significant reduction in the amount of movement and an increase in its latency. At either of the distances used, both lights were still viewed in the fovea, and the results did not differ in this respect. The direction of the second light from the central one did exert a significant influence, however. The results are compatible with the view that autokinesis results from a combination of eye movements and efferent tension.

ORDER EFFECTS IN CONCOMITANT ATTRIBUTE JUDGMENTS (SHAPE AND SIZE)

This experiment was designed to determine whether judgment of one stimulus attribute would exert an influence on the judgment of a second attribute as a function of the relative phenomenal strength of the two attributes. One group of Ss was instructed to judge the apparent shape of a Necker cube and then to judge the apparent relative size of its two faces. Another group made the size-judgment first, then the shape-judgment. For most Ss, the two judgments were not independent and were influenced by which of the attributes was judged first.

Perspective Reversal Rates and Reports of an Attribute of Apparent Depth in a Flat Stimulus

Os who reported that the 2 equal-sized faces of a Necker cube appeared to be of the same size had significantly lower perspective reversal rates than Os who reported that the “near” face appeared to be smaller than the “far” face. It was suggested that Os who failed to report an apparent size difference may fail to perceive depth in the cube and that this is reflected in their low perspective reversal rates.

Effect of Orientation, Inclination, and Length of Diagonal of Necker Cubes on Perspective Dominance

Orientation of the diagonal in a Necker cube drawing was shown to affect the first perspective reported and the relative amount of time that each perspective was dominant. Length and inclination of diagonal did not affect either measure of perspective dominance.