Imaginary representations of time cycles.
Two studies and 2 experiments, designed to investigate visual imaginary representations for day, week, and year time cycles, were reported. Incidence of such representations, incidence of subjective distortion, and two sources of suggestibility were also investigated. Finally, a relationship was sought between clearness of visual representations and performance on time-related tasks. Results indicated a high incidence of representations for all three time cycles. The representations were generally reported to be self-constructed as opposed to being taught. Subjective distortions were found in all three time cycles. Presence of an example increased the likelihood of a representation, indicating a possible source of suggestibility. Type of example was shown to have little influence on probability or content. Significant correlations were found between clearness of representation and self-reported accuracy of time estimation. This correlation was supposed by the finding that a group of subjects with clear visual representations out-performed a group of subjects with no representation on backward temporal calculations for months of the year. Results were discussed in terms of their implications for cognitive psychology and future research.
D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination; D013998:Time Perception; D014796:Visual Perception