ECVP 2009 Abstract
doi:10.1068/v090577

Cite as:
Toskovic O M, 2009, "Brave upside-down world: verbal judgments versus matching task in distance perception" Perception 38 ECVP Abstract Supplement, page 40

Brave upside-down world: verbal judgments versus matching task in distance perception

O M Toskovic

Recently, using verbal judgments, Higashiama showed that distances observed between the legs are perceived as shorter than distances viewed from upright position. However, using distance matching task, we showed that distances in a horizontal direction are being perceived as shorter that physically identical distances in a vertical direction. The aim of this research was to determine how would perceived distance change if we estimate distances by looking between the legs, and if we use distance matching task. The experiment was performed on a field in daylight, with twenty participants. The task was to equalize the distances of two stimuli, one of which was placed in front of the observer, and the other one behind, on three distances, 1 m, 3 m, and 5 m. Participants observed one of the stimuli by standing, and the other one by looking between the legs. Results showed significant effect of body position ( F1,19=6.88, p<0.05) and distance of the standard ( F2,38=864.71, p<0.01), and no significant interaction between the two. Distances viewed between the legs were perceived as larger that the distances viewed from upright position. Results might be opposite from those obtained by Higashiama because the matching task leaves less possibility for higher cognitive processes to be involved.

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