A Translation of “The Measurement of Visual Illusions in Children” by Alfred Binet

Abstract

Binet's paper was translated because of its relevance to current work, its clarity, ingenuity and its relative precision. Binet's findings in his own words and style are as follows: “(1) The illusion is stronger for the figures of small standard than for the figures of large standard. (2) The size of the illusion depends on the order in which the lines are compared. (3) The total illusion is the product of two illusions of opposite direction, which are of unequal force. (4) The children have, in general, a vague awareness of the illusion. (5) The illusion is stronger in the young children of 9 years (5th class) than in those of 12 years (1st and 2nd class).”