8/11/2019 Procedure for Change Blindness

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Procedure and Materials

We randomly selected pedestrians on Newbury St. in Boston. A large piece of plywood

and two identical maps were used when performing our experiment. An experimenter (A)

approaches a subject and asks them to illustrate on the map directions to a well known location.

As this occurs another experimenter (B) walks between the subject and experimenter A with thelarge piece of plywood obstructing their view of each other. Behind the plywood, unknown to the

subject, experimenter A switches with the third experimenter (C) who carries an identical map.

Once experimenter B moves on with experimenter A hidden behind the plywood experimenter C

resumes the conversation with the subject and attempts to make it seem as if they are the same

person as experimenter A. With this study we are testing whether or not , when experimenters A

and C switch (the independent variable), the subject notices (the dependent variable) and

whether they bring this up in conversation. Experimenter C will measure this variable by

observing whether or not the subject seems to notice the change in addition to whether or not

they explicitly bring this up during the conversation (operational definition).

Design and MeasurementThis is an observational study. While performing the experiment, experimenter C is going

to observe if a test subject first notices the change in person, and second if they bring it up within

the conversation. We are testing their ability to remember the face before the switch, and

blocking their view of the person they are initially giving directions, and then remember that, and

notice the different person. By blocking the view of the test subject, we are blocking their ability to

see slow moving motion cues to key us to pay attention to changes, and therefore possibility of

not noticing a change in person. Us experimenters have to infer if they actually notice a change,

especially if they do not say anything. They must show some facial expression or gesture

suggesting they noticed. It is possible they dont have large enough reaction for us to even pick

up on that they did notice, so we have to watch carefully their reaction and what they say.The controls in the the experiment is the maps will be identical, and the plywood will be

held in the same manner each time, walking between, blocking the view of the experimenter A

and the subject, and switching people. The test for the change is purely based on observation of

the subjects reaction and words.

We also have to consider how to measure our observations (operational definition). The

first part of our result is observing if they notice a change. Our standard of measurement is if

they make any gesture or a puzzled look, or a questioning look and are looking at experimenter

C. This reaction of something similar suggests they see or suspect that the person they were

just talking to is different. The second part is a verbal, whether they specifically bring it up or not.

We will watch out for confounding variables, such as depending on the time of day, we may get

more of an young or older group of people, but hopefully any confounding variables will be taken

care of by the random selection of people.

Hypothesis

Our hypothesis for the results are that the majority of people will not notice the change

from experimenter A to experimenter C.