TABLE II
| A | B | C | D | |||||||||
| 132 Experiments with each subject | 132 Experiments with each subject | 132 Experiments with each subject | 88 Experiments with each subject | |||||||||
| Homogeneous | Nucleated | No tendency | Homogeneous | Pattern | No tendency | Homogeneous | Outlined | No tendency | Regular | Irregular | No tendency | |
| Number of subjects | 10 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | |
| Av. % of difference in favor of | 53.23 | 1.5 | 6.1 | 35.7 | 52.8 | 5.3 | 42.7 | 34.8 | 7.9 | 40.3 | 1.2 | |
The several parts of Table II give us the following facts: (1) The judgment of relative number is very markedly a function of the internal arrangement. (2) The marked tendency among the observers to favor the homogeneous in A and B meets a check in C. Recalling the direction of difference between C and the other sets, that in C the gradually increasing contrast between the inner vacancies and the filling reaches a maximum, we may suspect that these vacancies begin to seem no longer a part of the group-situation, while the compactness of the filling, where it does occur, is thrust prominently forward. The notes of the observers confirm this suspicion. (3) The results of the different subjects show that the shifting of tendencies occurs as before. (4) As to the way in which regularity functions in the judgment, the notes of one observer are very clear. The blank spaces in the irregular are noticeable, he says, which is not true of the regular, where, on the contrary, one has a feeling of compactness of figure. I am able to confirm this character of the spaces by my experience outside this experiment. A simple pattern is very easily apprehended and irrelevancies of the background dismissed. Increase its complexity to a maximum, as in the case of an irregular group, and I am almost at a halt to isolate objects from their fellows and maintain them apart, yet together. The background is hardly to be shut out. This is probably due to the absence of a centrally excited image of the group. The object and the not-object run together. (5) The position of the single observer in the no-tendency class of D was marked subjectively by great difficulty in forming a judgment. The groups seemed incomparable, the vividness of form excluding the perception of number.
3. The Influence of Complexity in Group-Composition.
Complexity of group-content was attained by introducing objects of different colors; so there was not a clean isolation of factors. By comparing these results with those recorded in Table IV, A, we shall be able somewhat roughly to make allowance for the factor of mere color.
Sets of 132 experiments each from sixteen observers were obtained for each of these factors. Unfortunately the distribution-error was not eliminated. Later experiments showed the importance of this factor, and, in consequence, the impossibility of interpreting the results under consideration. So new experiments were performed under the proper conditions, but at a time when only a few of the first observers could be used. Their results from the earlier series are given in Table III, A. The exclusion of the small-difference cards from the later series (Table III, B) and the consequent increase of the number of experiments on objective equality prevent comparison.
The material in A consisted of two groups of circles of the usual size, one Normal Gray (Prang), the other of three colors—Red, Yellow Orange Shade 2 (Bradley), Light Blue Blue Green (Prang). The intent was to equalize the two groups in brightness. When the observers were questioned about the relative brightness, supporters were found for all three possible opinions. So it seems probable that the groups did not differ widely in this respect. As nearly as the number-condition would allow, the three colors were represented equally in the group; and they were distributed so as to make the whole as homogeneous as possible.
In B the changes were the correction for distribution as described in the introduction to this section, and the substitution of equality-cards for those of slight numerical difference. In addition, three other colors replaced those of A, in the interest of regulated brightness and more pleasing æsthetic effect. These were, in the Bradley system of broken spectrum scales, A-Red, medium; A-Yellow Orange, dark; A-Blue Green, dark. With these exceptions B was like A. The observers were all inclined to consider the gray brighter than the mixed. The Two-Group Apparatus was used.