Perceived Slant as a Function of Stimulus Contour and Vertical Dimension

Abstract

24 Os judged the slants represented by nine trapezoids presented monocularly and binocularly, with fixed head under reduced viewing conditions. The trapezoids were the frontal-parallel plane projections of rectangles with the dimensions, 12 in. by 6 in., 10 in. by 5 in., and 8 in. by 4 in., each slanted 30°, 45° and 60°, but with their heights increased to 12 in., 10 in. and 8 in., respectively, and the other contour dimensions increased in proportion. All forms were displayed in the frontal-parallel plane only. The greatest variance in the slant judgments was associated with variation in contour. Decrease in stimulus height tended to be associated with increase in judged slant. Monocular and binocular judgments did not differ significantly. There were no significant interactions. The results were interpreted as supporting the contour perspective theory of monocular slant.

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