Perceiving and Naming a Series of Figures

Abstract

Bartlett (1932) observed in one of his experiments that his subjects, when presented with a series of figures, tended to name them with reference to their general trend of development, sometimes anticipating the outcome rather than making an immediate identification. Two recent experiments have studied the effect of verbal “set” upon perception, and the present study was designed to show both the effect of the objective frame of reference and of verbal suggestions upon the naming of a series of figures. A series of 10 figures was presented to one group with instructions to name them. A second group was shown the same figures in exactly the reverse order. The distribution of responses was significantly different for the two groups, showing the effect of the different settings. Other groups were given the same figures, but with preliminary suggestions as to what they were to see, and their responses show some modifications. Individual variations in quality of response are also discussed, and the general implications of the method and materials for research on conceptual thinking are briefly surveyed.