Depiction of an Object's Size in Drawings Subsequent to Interaction with the Object

Abstract

Subsequent representation of the size of the object in a visuomotor activity was evaluated after an object was used differentially in two ways. 25 female and 17 male students volunteered from general psychology courses and were randomly assigned to a condition in which participants used a small teaspoon to remove sand from a ladle or simply moved the ladle. Those who removed sand drew a representation of a ladle that was taller than did participants who moved the ladle. It appears, given the time-consuming activity of removing sand, the ladle appeared to contain more sand and seemed larger. Findings suggest that the way an object was used may distort memory of its size and that subsequent representation of the size in a visuomotor task can be influenced by that memory.