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Abstract

Research was conducted to evaluate age-related changes in the strength of the Equidistance Tendency originally described by W.C. Gogel. This factor refers to the tendency on the part of a human observer to perceive two (or more) objects as if they were located at the same distance. A configuration of binocular and monocular objects was produced in a visually reduced, laboratory setting, so that individual measures of the strength of this effect could be obtained for observers who differed in age. Three groups were used: 18–22 years, 35–45 years, and over-60 years old. The Equidistance Tendency increased significantly for the older observers, suggesting that such individuals have a greater likelihood of underestimating the relative depth separation of visual targets. Implications of this work for transportation safety were discussed.

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Age-Related Changes in Distance Judgments

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