The Role of Ecological Validity in the Ability to Estimate Time-to-Contact

Abstract

Determining when an approaching object will reach our position in space is a skill necessary to survive in most environments and a skill which has been termed time-to-contact. Time-to-contact issues have traditionally been examined through the use of an artificial removal research scenario or through an ecologically valid occlusion research scenario. Although results suggest time-to-contact estimates were more accurate when viewing an occlusion research scenario, little evidence indicates whether the markedly better performance was due to relative increases in ecological validity or to the process of object occlusion. The present investigation compared an ecologically valid occlusion research scenario, an ecologically invalid occlusion research scenario, and an ecologically invalid removal research scenario. Results suggest little influence for varying levels of ecological validity. The theoretical and practical ramifications of the present research are discussed.

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