The Garbage-Can Illusion as a Teaching Demonstration.

Cavalier, Robert; Wesp, Richard

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Peer reviewed

ERIC Number: EJ549840

Record Type: CIJE

Publication Date: 1997

Pages: N/A

Abstractor: N/A

ISBN: N/A

ISSN: ISSN-0098-6283

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The Garbage-Can Illusion as a Teaching Demonstration.

Cavalier, Robert; Wesp, Richard

Teaching of Psychology, v24 n2 p125-27 1997

Maintains that having students estimate the size and width of a class waste paper can (placed on a desk) is a simple and effective way of illustrating perceptual distortion. Tests show that people will consistently overestimate the height of the can, allowing for a useful discussion on sensory distortion. (MJP)

Descriptors: Demonstrations (Educational), Educational Experiments, Error Patterns, Higher Education, Introductory Courses, Learning Activities, Misconceptions, Perception Tests, Psychology, Sensory Experience, Teaching Methods, Undergraduate Study, Visual Discrimination, Visual Perception

Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive

Education Level: N/A

Audience: Practitioners; Researchers; Teachers

Language: English

Sponsor: N/A

Authoring Institution: N/A

Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A

Author Affiliations: N/A