Effect of instructions on damage estimates from single photographs

Abstract

The ability of human observers to make magnitude estimates of damage was investigated under 3 instructional definitions of damage: (a) amount of volume reduction, or (b) amount of surface distortion or "complexity," or (c) overall amount of damage. The stimuli were distorted metal containers photographed from 5 angles of view between 0° and 90°. 9 college students were assigned to each of the 15 experimental groups. Analyses of errors in rating indicated that at least 2 subjectively different underlying damage scales could be discriminated but that these were highly correlated. Shape of the original, intact object is an important factor determining the magnitude and direction of errors. Interrater reliabilities of about .72 were obtained. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)