The perception of slight changes of equilibrium, with especial reference to problems of aviation

Abstract

Studies: (1) the relative delicacy of perception of slight changes of equilibrium in various directions and (2) the merits of dep as compared to stick airplane control in reacting to slight changes of equilibrium. The method involved simulated airplane conditions. Visual factors were eliminated throughout the entire experiment. The Ss with one exception were graduate students and two of the them were women. At the end of each hour, the Ss were asked for introspection regarding the means by which they discriminated the movement. The criteria involved in discrimination varied considerably with the different Ss. Subjective estimates of ability to detect lateral vs longitudinal movements did not correlate uniformly with actual ability. Concludes that the average individual, tilted from a horizontal position, could detect a change in the lateral direction more readily than a change in longitudinal direction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)