Biegalski and Alampy 1961 (Rat Man experiment)

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

to identify the importance of experience on perceptual sets (past experience, context, motivation and emotional state)

Question 2

experimental design

Answer 2

• mixed measures design
• participants were used as their own control group prior to being exposed to either the man or the man or the rat in the picture

Question 3

results

Answer 3

• of 45 participants, 81% saw a man (suggesting natural bias for human faces)
• higher identification rate of people who saw a rat when shown animals prior

Question 4

significance

Answer 4

context and past experience is related to perception

Question 5

Reliability

Answer 5

other studies show similar results: use of mixed measures design was not ideal, as it may prime participants for the aim of the study