The Perception of Objects and Their Functional Uses.
Abstract
Five common objects were selected to which multiple uses could be assigned. The eye scanning patterns of 43 subjects were examined as they made decisions regarding possible functional uses of these objects. We hypothesized that special features of objects must be attended to before such decisions can be made. The stimuli were line drawings of the objects with specific feature areas delineated. Each object was shown in four orientations selected by rotating the object in the picture plane by 90 degree increments. Correlations were computed between the fixations in each of the feature areas and canonical and functional scales developed by independent introspective ratings. Significant correlations occurred with specific areas of familiar objects and the canonical scales. One unfamiliar object had significant correlations with the functional scales for that object. Therefore, subjects did rely on specific features to identify the objects and apparently used the features to retrieve a semantic label from which they made inferences about functional information. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1982
- Accession Number
- ADA122797
Entities
People
- Frank Keil
- Marie Knowlton
- Marvin D. Glock