Validity of Perceptual Reports of Experienced and Inexperienced Observers

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Abstract
Under identical instructions for passive viewing, rates of reversal of a reversible figure reported by 10 Os practiced in describing their perceptual experiences were compared with those made by 14 Os who were inexperienced in perceptual reporting. All Os were naive with respect to the hypothesis to be tested, and further precautions were taken to mask the purpose of the experiment. In order to establish a set to “see” reversals, three ambiguous reversible figures were presented before the test figure which was similar to the last ambiguous figure in the series but was actually unambiguous and nonreversible. The inexperienced Os generally did not overcome the set to “see” reversals, while most of the experienced Os did so. Distraction in the form of noise did not influence the latter, but it increased the effect of the set on the inexperienced Os.

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