Some factors influencing the perception of ambiguous pictures

It is known that perception and subsequent recall are affected by prior set or expectation of the individual. For instance, Carmichael, Hogan, and Walter found that reproduction of visually perceived forms were affected by the word said to the S immediately before the presentation of the forms. Leeper compared two methods of inducing expectation.2 Before showing the ambiguous picture to the S, in one group verbal descriptions were given, calling attention to one version of the ambiguous picture. In another group, single-version drawings derived from the ambiguous picture were shown. Compared with a control group, he found that perceptual organization was influenced by verbal guidance to some extent, and by 'perceptual preparation' to an even greater extent. Bruner, Postman, and Rodrigues studied the effects of expectation as a function of the amount of appropriate information.