Measuring Visual Imagery Ability: A Review

Abstract

The internal nature of visual imagery makes the measurement of visual imagery ability a difficult task. In this review, we describe and evaluate the available measures of visual imagery ability. Several questionnaires of vividness, control, and preference have received favorable psychometric evaluations but these were not created on the basis of a theoretical analysis of imagery ability. Recent development of questionnaires has taken account of theoretical advances. Future research should continue in this vein. Objective tests of spatial ability may not be as appropriate as theory-driven visual imagery tests, as measures of visual imagery ability. The latter should be standardized. The well-known finding of a lack of relationship between subjective and objective imagery measures has been challenged by recent findings. Before this relationship can be fully examined, current measurement should be improved.