Perceived Size and Distance of Familiar Objects

Abstract

The relation between the perceived size and distance of a playing card and its retinal size was studied using both stationary and moving stimuli. A distinction between absolute and relative familiar size cues was supported by the experimental results in that successive judgments of the distance of different retinal sizes of the cards were not predictable solely from cues of absolute retinal size. The data from both the stationary and moving stimuli suggest, however, that the perceived distance of the initial presentations resulting from the absolute size cue provides a metric for the distance perceptions resulting from cues of relative size. As indicated by the results from the initial presentations, the absolute size cue to distance from familiar objects in this study was a highly variable determiner of perceived distance.