Mental Rotation Experiment - Report Example

Mental Rotation Experiment Mental Rotation Experiment Rubric Report: This Rubric report is effective in the analysis of group participation. It also is useful in facilitating avenues for self-assessment and provided peer feedback. Criteria Points Abstract Study Summary, problem being investigated, Experiment, method, findings, and implications of the study. Introduction previous research, Weaknesses of the previous research, importance of your experiment, definition of terms; variables identification, Purpose of study, Study hypothesis. Method Experiment Results Findings of the experiment. Conclusions drawn from the study. Discussion n Developing a Three-dimensional and Two-Dimensional object, Time and Accuracy taken to make conclusions and ascertain results. Final essay statement Mechanics Spelling and Punctuation, Capitalization, well chosen words, originality, topic sentences use of headings, third person, References 3 references, in text citation, Adequate referencing rules followed. Abstract Mental Rotation can be described and termed as a mental capability to be able to rotate representations in the mind into three-dimensional and two-dimensional objects. In the right of the Cerebral hemisphere of the brain is where mental rotation occurs, this is the exact position as where perception occurs. Mental rotation is related to the specific rate processing and intelligence ( Jones, 1982). The mind uses mental rotation to move objects and ascertain where they belong and where they are. Objects are called stimuli, and various studies have been to try to ascertain how the mind recognizes the stimuli. A stimulus is considerably categorized as an image or an object in the environment that could be changed in any manner possible. Mental rotation is extremely crucial for one to ascertain what the changed figure is. Introduction Problem Investigated: The essay seeks to understand the concepts behind Mental Rotation. Mental Rotation as indicated is the capability of the mind to recognize, altered stimuli. The altered stimuli may be in the form of images or objects. Through mental rotation, the mind is able to recognize three-dimensional and two-dimensional objects. Individuals are able to judge the similarities between objects through Mental Rotation. It ascertains whether they are different or the same, these is a difficult activity considering the paired stimuli not being similar oriented. In the upright position, there is always the left object. On the right, the various objects that are paired are 45 degrees rotated to 315 degrees. The experiment can be conducted up to 64 trials. In the design of the variables, issues to do with gender and furthermore age are all dependable on the population sample to be researched on. Method of Study: Laboratory explanations will be used to analyze the topic under Mental Rotation. By obtaining the results of the various analyses, one is able to measure and obtain the desired results and conclusions that are necessary required to ascertain the conclusions on Mental Rotation. Study 1: Time and Accuracy, as measured through Mental Rotation. Mental rotation as indicated is the ability of the mind to recognize two-dimensional and three-dimensional objects. The mind is able to ascertain these altered stimuli. The experiment was an on-line laboratory study. Variables measured were on time and accuracy as ascertaining whether the objects indicated were similar or different. The results were marked on the aspect of accuracy of the results and the time taken to make the choice (Barkowsky, 2010). Problem Studied: Mental Rotation, enables one differentiates between altered objects. The first study meant to differentiate whether the objects indicated on the site were different or similar. A pair of three-dimensional stimuli was present for analysis and the mark criterion was whether one was able to identify the similarities in the objects displayed. Differences in the various rotations were supposed to be ignored in making the decisions (Hickox, 1997). Findings from the study: The finding proved that some objects were easily identifiable as different while it was equally hard to identify other objects. This proves that mental rotation could be accurate but to a certain extent. (Peng, 2009) Implications: Ability of the mind to differentiate between objects,. Mental rotation is the ability to identify and distinguish the similarities in the various three-dimensional and two-dimensional objects. From the experiment, it was easy to identify some objects as either similar or different. It was equally hard to identify other objects on the same category. These therefore implied that mental rotation was limited to a certain extent, as one could not totally depend on it to distinguish various objects (Barkowsky, 2010). Study 2: Time and Accuracy, taken to differentiate altered objects. The second laboratory study was to identify the accuracy and time that it takes one to identify whether the objects are similar or different. This was necessary to identify the accuracy of a person’s mental rotation. Mental rotation ought to be accurate and not fast. The persons involved ought to make an accurate choice (Bodie, 2011). Findings: From the study, the choices made quickly were incorrect. It is crucial to make a well-analyzed and informed choice. The accuracy of distinguishing between these objects as either different or similar is extremely valuable (Cartwright, 2005). Implications: The implications of these findings were to reinstate that the mind takes time to identify altered stimuli. It was therefore necessary for an individual to take time to analyze and identify these altered stimuli. This is necessary enough to carry out an accurate and well-informed decision (Bodie, 2011). Introduction: Mental rotation is the ability of the cerebral hemisphere of the mind to identify three-dimensional and two-dimensional objects. Through it identifies altered images and objects categorized as stimulus. Previous Research on Mental Rotation: Metzler & Shepherd initiated the concept of Mental Rotation in 1971. Their experiment was basing on a variety of graphical images that were memorable. The findings of the study refuted the doctrine of the behaviorists. They suggested that representations that were analog in nature had a vital part to play in thinking. Pairs of drawings of two-dimensional and three-dimensional drawings were useful in presenting the views of Mental Rotation. The images or objects to be differentiated were altered. The participant was required to distinguish between the two images and determine their similarities. The hypothesis of the experiment by (Shepard, 1971) was developing a three-dimensional or two-dimensional object or image; the differences were from rotating the developed images. Participants of the study were to differentiate between the two objects and ascertain whether they were similar or different. The findings of the experiment revealed that every stimulus analyzed, the time taken to ascertain the similarities of the two objects increased proportionally to the angular rotation between the objects. By further rotating the object, it made it difficult for one to identify the object and the time taken to make the decision was also under consideration (Khooshabeh, 2009). Issues lacking in the previous Research: Time and Accuracy, not clearly analyzed. The previous studies on Mental Rotation were as concrete and precise in explaining the facts under the topic. The main weaknesses of the experiments were that the analysis of time and accuracy was not clearly analyzed. The rotation of the three-dimensional objects or images was also subject to constraints of rotation under large degrees. Importance of The experiment undertaken: Time and Accuracy in making decisions. The experiment clearly analyzes the background on Mental Rotation. The on-line laboratory also presents a perfect background for analysis of the three-dimensional objects. The time and accuracy in making the choices is also adequately analyzed from the experiment carried out. The conclusions drawn from the experiment also is that it is challenging to ascertain the similarity in objects that are rotated at huge angles (Bursztyn, 2007). Definition of Terms: Mental Rotation Experiment is an experiment that is carried out on the brain to identify altered stimulus or images. Cerebral hemisphere on the other hand is the various parts of the brain that perform different functions. Identification of Variables Time and Accuracy. The Variables under study were time and accuracy. By increasing the rotation of the various objects, the time taken to make a choice was considerably higher, also the accuracy reduced in attempts to further rotate the objects The Hypothesis of the study Developing, Three-dimensional and Two-dimensional objects. In the laboratory experiment on mental rotation, the hypothesis was to develop a three-dimensional or two-dimensional object or image; the differences were from rotating the developed images. Participants of the study were to differentiate between the two objects and ascertain whether they were similar or different. Methodology: Study 1: The participants of the experiment had to have internet accessibility and accessibility of a computer. These materials were a pre-requisite of the study. Procedure: The participants had to log into the website psychexps.olemiss.edu.com, they had to select the laboratory experiment and begin the experiment by entering the User name. The user Id was also noted down. One had to click on Asia and specifically to click on PMU-Dr. Bruce Wells PSYC1311 and the instruction carried on while obtaining results. Results: Study 1: It easy to identify certain objects unlike other objects. The findings of the first study proved that some objects were easily identifiable as different while it was equally hard to identify other objects. This proves that mental rotation could be accurate but to a certain extent. Study 2: Quick choices were incorrect. From the second study, the choices made quickly were incorrect. It is important to make a well-analyzed and informed choice. The accuracy of distinguishing between these objects as either different or similar is very important (Breukelen, 1988) Study 3: We can not totally rely on the mind to differentiate between objects. According to the study findings it is evident that the ability of the mind to differentiate objects could be acceptable but to a certain extent. Discussion: Mental Rotation in differentiating altered three-dimensional or two-dimensional objects. Time and Accuracy taken in making the decisions. Mental rotation, enables the brain distinguishe between altered stimulus. The objects are altered through rotation. The experiment supports the hypothesis as the three-dimensional and two-dimensional objects were created in the on-line laboratory. They are also rotated to create the difference between the two. It therefore follows that the study follows the hypothesis. The findings of the study were that it was hard to identify other altered objects. The accuracy reduced with the objects being further altered, the time taken to make the choice also increased. The problems of the study were to analyze the aspect of mental rotation. Testing the ability of the mind to distinguish different objects was also studied. The accuracy and time taken to make the choice was also a variable that was under consideration (Bursztyn 2007). Further experiments are proposed to be done on this topic of Mental Rotation, to ascertain whether we can trust our mind in making well-informed decisions on various objects and images. References: Barkowsky, T. 2010. Cognitive shape processing: papers from the AAAI Spring Symposium. Menlo Park, Calif.: AAAI Press. Peng, Q. 2009. International Conference on Transportation Engineering, 2009 Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Transportation Engineering, July 25-27, 2009, [Southwest Jiaotong University] Chengdu, China. Reston, VA: American Society of Civil Engineers. Bodie, Z., Kane, A., & Marcus, A. J. (2011). Investments (9th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Cartwright, S. 2005. The Blackwell encyclopedia of management. Malden, Mass.: Blackwell Pub.. Hickox, J. C. 1997. Navigational Checking: A Model of Elevation Angle Effects, Image Complexity, and Feature Type. Ft. Belvoir: Defense Technical Information Center. Breukelen, G. J., & Roskam, E. E. 1988. The speed-precision trade-off in mental rotation: a model and some experiments. Nijmegen: Psychologisch Laboratorium, Katholieke Universiteit. Bursztyn, L. L., & Kingston, O. 2007. Representation of object dynamics for action. Kingston, Ont.: [s.n.]. Khooshabeh, P., & California, S. B. 2009. Is mental rotation color blind?. Santa Barbara, Calif.: University of California, Santa Barbara. Read More