Direction of motion relationships between controls and displays moving in different planes

Abstract

"… to investigate the direction of motion relationships for seven combinations of display pointer moving at right angles to plane of rotation of control knob, a total of 718 Ss were tested by sequential methods on an apparatus producing a single direction of movement of a pointer, moving along a linear scale, for either clockwise or anticlockwise rotation of the control… where the right hand was used, there was a significant tendency to turn the knob clockwise to produce movement away from the knob [but]… there was also a significant tendency for movement towards the knob to be mediated by clockwise turning… [there were, however] significantly more anticlockwise responses for movement towards the control… . Left-handed combinations gave rise to no significant tendencies; but left-handed Ss gave significantly more anticlockwise responses than right-handers, even when the right hand was used. On the whole it is not advisable to employ any of the combinations explored in this investigation, unless movement is to be restricted to adjustments in one direction only relative to the control." (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)