Experiment Instructions

This study is about understanding how people perceive the complexity of the environment based on photos.

Specifically, you will be asked how many elements there are in the environment and how well those elements are organized based on the provided photos.

There are no right or wrong answers, so please provide your most honest response.

Experiment Instructions (continued)

On top of each photo, there will be A BLACK ARROW, indicating the target person of the photo.

Environment: Everything other than the target person.

Elements: All things in the environment including other people and objects.

Here is an example photo (the red outlines are just for illustration purposes, it will not appear in the experiment):

Experiment Instructions (continued)

Here are some examples of different numbers of elements in the environment.

Very few elements in the environment:

A lot of elements in the environment:

Experiment Instructions (continued)

Here are some examples of different levels of organization of the elements in the environment.

Very poorly organized elements in the environment:

Very well organized elements in the environment:

Experiment Instructions (continued)

In each trial, you will first see a fixation cross (see example below). Please fixate your gaze at the cross.

Then, you will see the image, the question, and the rating scale (see example below).

Experiment Instructions (continued)

Above the image, there will be a question indicating which aspect of complexity you are rating.

Please enter your answer by pressing a number key 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 on the top row of your computer keyboard. Clicking the numbers on the screen will NOT work.

Please use the full range of the rating scales when you make these inferences.

Experiment Instructions (continued)

The image will stay on the screen and you will rate all of the two aspects (i.e., how many elements there are, how organized the elements are) of the environment for each image.

Please double check which aspect of the environment you are asked to rate before providing your response.

Your response time for answering the question will be recorded. You will receive an alert message if your response time is unusually short or long.

Experiment Instructions (continued)

Please note that we will check your attention during the experiment. Poor performance in these attention checks may result in rejection of your submission.

In the attention checks, you will be asked to identify which environment you previously rated (see example below).

There is no time limit for attention checks. Please take your time and think carefully before you respond.

Experiment Instructions (continued)

In each attention check, you will be presented with two images with different environments.

To indicate the environment you previously rated, press the number key "1" for the left image or "7" for the right image using your keyboard. Clicking the numbers on the screen will NOT work.

- Again, if you rated the environment in the left image, press 1.
- If you rated the environment in the right image, press 7.

Experiment Instructions (continued)

You will be given the option to take a short break after completing a certain number of trials.

After completing all trials, you will fill out a survey about your demographics and understanding about this experiment.

You are about to start the experiment now. Please expand your web browser window to full screen.

 

 

You have completed this study. Thank you!

Your completion code is B0817D02CE.