THE JUDGMENT OF VELOCITY AND PREDICTION OF MOTION

Abstract

Experiments are described using an intercoption situation and varying the amount the subject is able to view of the progress of the object being intercepted. The results indicate that the subjects were able to deal with this type of situation by using a comparatively simple response technique. The main question which remains is the way in which the subject predicts the motion of an object once it has disappeared. Further experiments were carried out using a prediction situation in which the subject has to press a button when he judges when a moving light which has disappeared has reached a specified point. The results show a systematic relationship between the variability of the subject's performance and the time the light has been invisible. Tho relationship closely approximates V² = Kt² where V is the variability of the subject, I the time the light was obscured and K a constant. Divergence from this precise relationship appeared to be due to the use by the subject of a well-established response technique.