The effects of instructions on scales for perceived egocentric distance in a large open field

Abstract

Data from a magnitude estimation study of distance in a large open field are presented. Two separate sets of instructions intended to induce either physical or apparent attitudes for reporting the magnitude estimates of distance were employed in two experiments. The results showed that the type of instructions, regardless of the degree of availability of a standard distance in the series of judgments, does not affect the exponent of the power function relating perceived distance to physical distance. The mean exponent for all 80 individual power functions was 0.87, with a standard deviation of 0.09. © 1984, The psychonomic Society, Inc.. All rights reserved.