VARIABLES UNDERLYING RECOGNITION OF RANDOM SHAPES

Previous studies have shown that shape association value (percentage of Ss making an association to a shape) is a strong determining factor in shape recognition. In this study, the physical characteristics of shapes of high and low association value were compared. The intent was to uncover general physical characteristics of shape which differentiate shapes of high association value from shapes of low association value, and, thus, shapes accurately recognized from those not so accurately recognized. Comparisons were made on the basis of 12 factor scores per shape derived from an extensive analysis of 22 physical measures of shape. Results were that none of the factors differentiated between the two classes of shapes. Conclusions were that the physical measures may have been insensitive to perceptually conspicuous features in the perimeters of the shapes, and that associations to a shape are probably too varied in content to expect a few general physical measures to underlie those varied associations. © 1969 Psychonomic Journals, Inc.