Chapter 20 The study of vividness of images

This chapter summarizes some studies that have carried out on vividness of images. In a first series of experiments, variables that may affect vividness ratings were examined. In a second series, the vividness rating procedure was used to contrast different conditions and groups of subjects. By focusing on vividness qualities of images, the chapter aims to suggest that the study of the structural properties of mental images is no less important than the study of their functional properties. To examine the effects on the vividness ratings of groups of different imagery ability, the IDQ imagery test was administered to 88 University students. The main result concerning vividness found in this series of experiments was that all of the six identified characteristics contributed in some way to the vividness of an image. The second series of experiments illustrates how the consideration of the different vividness properties of the images may help in studying critical problems concerning visual imagery. © 1991, Elsevier Science & Technology. All rights reserved.