Object bias is mediated by the collinearity of targets

Crundall, D; Cole, GG; Galpin, AJ

Abstract

Same-object bias occurs when tasks associated with processing a single object are faster than tasks associated with two objects. Over five experiments we assessed whether same-object bias is mediated by the collinearity of the targets. Participants decided whether two targets, presented either within a single object or across two objects, were the same or different. Results showed that same-object bias only occurred when targets appeared on the same straight line within the same object. When targets appeared in the same object but were separated by an angle or corner, within-object facilitation was eliminated or greatly reduced. In a final experiment, response times to two targets that were collinear but on separate objects were responded to faster than were noncollinear targets on the same object. This suggests that collinearity between targets mediates the effect found in this paradigm, at least to a greater extent than colour grouping.

Citation

Crundall, D., Cole, G., & Galpin, A. (2007). Object bias is mediated by the collinearity of targets. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 60(1), 137-153. https://doi.org/10.1080/17470210600654792

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2007
• Deposit Date: Oct 3, 2007
• Journal: Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology
• Print ISSN: 1747-0218
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 60
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 137-153
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17470210600654792