Methods

Aim: To determine the extent of Muller-Lyer illusion by the method of average error

Hypothesis: The extent of illusion varies with the direction of movement (Ascending and

Descending)

Plan: Ascending and descending series to be done alternatively. In each trial, the subject
manipulates the variable stimulus to make it equal to the standard length of 16 cm.

Materials:

a) The Muller-Lyer Illusion Board

b) Writing materials

Variables:

Independent Variable: The direction in which the subject varies the length of the variable
line

Dependent Variable: The error committed by the subject

Experimental Controls:

1. The experimenter should make sure that the subject has understood the instructions

2. The distance between the subject and the apparatus is kept constant

3. The variable line should be held definitely longer in the descending series and shorter in
the ascending series

4. The starting point of the variable line should vary from trial to trial to avoid habituation

Procedure:

The subject is made to sit comfortably and the following subject details are recorded: Name
(Initials), Age, Sex and Education.

The apparatus is placed at a distance of two feet from the subject and the Muller Lyer Illusion
Board is adjusted to the eye level of the subject. The subject is shown the standard and
variable lines.
Ascending series: Keep the variable line definitely shorter than the standard line in the
ascending series. Instruct the subject to slowly increase the length of the variable line, till
he/she feels it is equal to the standard line. When the subject stops moving, the length of the
variable line adjusted as equal to the standard line is noted down with the help of the scale
provided behind the apparatus, by the experimenter. Ten trials are given.

Descending series: The length of the variable line is kept definitely longer than the standard
line in the descending series. The subject is instructed to slowly decrease the length of the
variable line till he/she feels it is equal to the standard line. The length of the variable line
adjusted as equal to the standard line is noted down with the help of the scale behind the
apparatus by the experimenter. Ten trials are given here also.

The ascending and descending trials are given alternatively to eliminate practice effect.

Instructions:

Ascending Series: “The line between the two arrow heads is the standard line and its length
remains constant. The line between the two feather-heads is the variable line and its length
can be varied by manipulation. In this series the variable line is held shorter than the standard
line. Slowly increase the length of the variable line till you feel it is equal to the standard line’

Descending Series: “Now the variable line is held longer than the standard. Decrease the
length of the variable line. Stop when you feel that the length of the variable line is equal to
the length of the standard line”.

Precautions:

1. The distance between the subject and the apparatus should be two feet.

2. The Ascending and Descending series are given randomly to the subject.

Analysis of Results:

1. In each trial, the subject's judgement of the length of the variable line is noted by the
experimenter. This is the point of subjective equality (PSE)

2. The mean PSE is calculated for each series.

3. The constant error (CE) is calculated in each series.

CE (Asc.)= Mean PSE (Asc) – Standard Line (16 cms)

CE (Des.)= Mean PSE (Des.)- Standard Line (16 cms)

4. Calculate the Mean CE

Mean CE = CE (Asc.)+ CE (Des.)

2

5. The movement error is calculated by using the formula

Mean PSEDes. - Mean PSE Asc.

 Results and Discussion

The aim of the experiment was to determine the extent of Muller-Lyer illusion by the
method of average error using Muller-lyer Apparatus wherein standard length of the illusion
line is 14.8 cm.

Named after its creator, Franz Carl Muller-Lyer, the test is a well-known optical
illusion in which two lines of the same length appear to be of different lengths (Cherry,
2018).

The experiment was conducted on FYS, a 23-year-old female undergraduate student.

Table 1

Table depicting scores of Ascending and Descending order trials

No. Trails Ascending Descending

1 12.7 14.7
2 15 14.6
3 14.5 13.6
4 14.8 14.6
5 14.9 14.7

6 14.3 14.5
7 14.7 13.7
8 14 14.2
9 13.9 13.8
10 14 11.6
Total
Mean 14.28 14
The Mean PSE Score is given by the average of the trial scores

Table 1 shows the scores of the ascending and descending trials and their respective
means. From the table we learn that the that subject’s mean score for the ascending order is
14.28 cm and mean score for the descending is 14 cm. On an average the subject perceives
the length of the line to be 14.28 cm and 14 cm while undertaking the ascending order trials
and descending order trials respectively.
Table 2

Table depicting Mean Point of Subjective Error, Constant Error, in ascending and
descending order, Mean Constant Error and Movement Error

Subject Mean PSE Mean PSE CEAsc CEDes Mean Movement

name Asc Des CE Error
FYS 14.28 14 -0.52 -0.8 -0.66 -0.14
The Constant Error is given by CE (Asc/Des.)= Mean PSE (Asc/Des) – Standard Line (14.8
cm). The Mean Constant Error is given by Mean CE = (CE (Asc.)+ CE (Des.))/2. And
Movement Error is given by Mean PSEDes. - Mean PSE Asc.

In addition to depicting the Mean Scores for the Ascending and Descending trials,
Table 2 also shows the Constant Error for the Ascending and Descending trials and their
mean; and the Movement Error. The constant error is the difference between the PSE score
and the Standard Line Length. The constant error for ascending order trials and descending
order trials is -0.52 and -0.8 respectively. While undertaking the ascending order trials, the
subject on an average deviates from the standard line by -0.52. The negative score indicates
that the subject underestimates the length, on an average by -0.52 cm. On the other hand,
while undertaking the descending order trials, the subject on an average deviates from the
standard line by -0.8. Here too the subject underestimates the length of the line, on an average
by -0.8 cm. From this we can also say that the deviation in terms of underestimation of line
length is higher in ascending order trials. The mean constant error which is given by the
average of the two types of trails is -0.66. The negative score indicates that irrespective of the
direction of the trials, on an average the subject underestimates the length of the line by -0.66
cm.

The movement error is -0.14. The movement error is the difference between Mean
PSE of descending order and the Mean PSE of ascending order. The movement error tells us
whether there is a variance with respect to the direction of movement. The -0.14 movement
error indicates that there is variation in perception of length between the ascending and
descending trails and thus accepts the hypothesis which states that the extent of illusion varies
with the direction of movement.

In conclusion, the subject, FYS, underestimates the line length and accepts the
hypothesis.
References

Cherry, K. (2018). How the Muller-Lyer Illusion Is Used in Psychology. Retrieved

from https://www.verywellmind.com/how-the-muller-lyer-illusion-works-
4111110