Influence of expectation on perception

• Who conducted the study in 1955 regarding the effect of expectation on perceptual set?

  Bruner and Minturn
• What was the aim of Bruner and Minturn's study?

  To investigate expectation's role in perceptual set, specifically whether participants interpretation of an ambiguous figure is affected by the context in which it was shown
• What was the ambiguous figure used in the study?

  It could be seen as 'B' or '13'
• What design did the study use?

  Independent groups design
• How were participants shown the sequences in the study?

  Letters left to right or numbers top to
• What did participants have to report and draw?

  What they saw in the ambiguous figure
• What were the results for the letter group?

  They reported seeing 'B' more often
• What were the results for the number group?

  They reported seeing '13' more often
• What conclusion did Bruner and Minturn draw from their study?

  Expectation influences perceptual set, by changing the context in which information is presented, it is possible to change the way ot is
• What are the strengths of Bruner and Minturn's study?

  • Supports Gregory's theory of perception
  • Helps understand errors of judgment
• What are the weaknesses of Bruner and Minturn's study?

  • Artificial task not reflecting everyday life
  • Independent groups design may affect validity due to participant variables
• What is an expectation in the context of perception?

  A belief about likely outcomes based on experience
• How does expectation influence perceptual set?

  The brain may perceive what it wants to rather than what is actually
• How might watching horror movies affect perception in an abandoned barn?

  It may cause fear-based interpretations
• How does expectation shape perception in different contexts?

  • Influences attention to stimuli
  • Alters interpretation based on past experiences