Comparison of the Drawing and Matching Methods for Judging Shape 1

Abstract

Observers judged the slant and shape of a circle, a rectangle and a triangle binocularly under reduced viewing at 0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, and 60° geometric slant. In Exp. I they drew shape with drawing size unrestricted (Draw I) and matched shape with the horizontal axes of 14 comparison shapes constant (Match I). In Exp. II, a different group drew shape by the method of Draw I and with the horizontal axis of the drawing constant (Draw II) and matched shape with the areas of 14 comparison shapes variable (Match II). Slant was underestimated. Draw I and Match I produced about the same overall constancy in Exp. I, Draw I and Match II about the same in Exp. II. Draw II produced more constancy than Draw I and Match II in Exp. II. There was more constancy for the rectangle than for the circle and triangle. The results were contrary to the view that drawn shape is confounded with implicitly registered slant and were inconclusive for the invariance hypothesis.