Muller-Lyer Illusion

Aim- To study the extent of the Muller-Lyer Illusion experienced by the subject.

Introduction
 Illusions
 Kinds of Illusions
 Geometrical Illusions (with diagrams)
 Muller Lyer Illusion (with diagrams)
 Explanation for Muller Lyer Illusion

Hypothesis
Length of the arrow-head line in the Muller-Lyer figure will be misjudged and
underestimated.
Dependent Variable- Estimated length of the line with feather heads
Independent Variable- Line with arrow heads (10 cm)

Design of the experiment

Left Right
Inwards Outwards Inwards Outwards
10 Trials 10 Trials 2-minute break 10 Trials 10 Trials
to observe
spatial effect

Preliminaries
Name-
Age-
Gender-
Socio-emotional state-

Instructions
“Please be seated comfortably. You have to perform a simple task. The length of the line on
your left side is constant and the length of the line on your right side is adjustable. You have
to move this bar on the apparatus (show) to equate both the lines. We will begin with some
trials of moving the bar inwards which will be followed by trials wherein you will be required
to move the bar outwards. Be careful while moving the bar as retracement of the bar is not
allowed. Please ask if you have any queries.”
Procedure
i. Rapport Formation
The subject was seated comfortably. A small conversation was made with the subject to
eliminate any anxiety that the subject might have had about the experiment. The
instructions related to the experiment were explained and queries were resolved.
ii. Precautions
 Apparatus should be at the eye-level of the subject
 Slide should be straight
 There should be a distance of 12-14 inches between the subject and the apparatus
 The subject’s vision should be normal. If not, spectacles should be worn by the
subject
 The experiment should be conducted in a quiet place with no sources of
distraction
 Half the trials should be taken from the left and half from the right to balance the
spatial effect
 A two-minute break should be given before changing the sides.
 Both inward and outward movement trials should be conducted
 Retracing of the bar should not be permitted
 The length recorded should be accurate
 Data sheet should not be visible to the subject while conducting the experiment

iii. Conduction
Subject was called and seated comfortably in the lab. The subject was made to feel at ease
with a small talk. Instructions were read out. Trials were taken on the left side while
taking all the precautions. After the trials on the left were complete, a two-minute break
was given and the experiment was repeated on the right. Both inward and outward
movement trials were conducted. The subject’s response was recorded and the
introspective report was taken.
iv. Introspective Report
v. Behavioural note

Results
Interpretation
Conclusion