Similarity

[Boots]

In the 2005 VCAA exam it says to define similarity and give an example.

the assessor said this: This question was poorly answered, mainly because students did not appear to appreciate the essential feature of the Gestalt principles; the ‘Good Form’ aspect which dictates that stimuli are perceived not as separate items but as a meaningful whole. Too many students simply stated that ‘When objects are alike in shape, size or colour, they are grouped together (or seen as a group) – such as children in school uniforms.’ This statement did not clearly explain the principle, as required by the question.

What's wrong with this answer. What would be a correct answer?

[Chromeo33]

'Similarity refers to the tendency to perceive stimuli or parts of a stimuli that have similar features (i.e. size, shape, texture, colour, etc.) into a meaningful whole.'

I'm guessing that the answer that you mentioned above didn't mention that we use this principle TO FORM THE MEANINGFUL WHOLE INTERPRETATION.

I think, I'm not sure. If this isn't the reason, then I don't see why that answer you gave above isn't correct =]

[Slumdawg]

Yep Chromeo is right. You have to include " to form a meaningful whole image (or interpretation)" at the end of any definition or explanation of gestalt principles to get the marks in most cases. Also be careful to not use similar in the definition. Use words such as "alike" or "like" to define it as you never know how picky the assessor marking your paper will be. I have yet to find good synonyms for figure ground, shape constancy or orientation constancy so for them you should be able to reuse the words but when there are synonyms available always use them...

[Boots]

Hold on! Figure-Ground is a Gestalt principle, so how can we say that it forms into a meaningful whole? I think this 'meaningful whole' business relates only to Similarity.

[littlebecc]

Boots, considering the whole purpose of Gestalt Principles is to organize the elements by grouping them into a whole meaningful complete form, all Gestalt Principles use the 'whole meaningful form' idea. So yes, even figure ground.

By figure ground relating to meaningful whole, we separate the important aspects of the visual field into the figure which stands out from the ground. By separating this it creates a 'meaningful whole image'

I may be wrong though. Does that make sense?

[Boots]

That maybe true, but the lecture notes that I have (which are written by Roger Edwards, the chief assessor) only mentions 'meaningful whole' to similarity, not to any others. He assured us that his definitions are 100% correct.

But I still have doubt. 

[littlebecc]

Okay, so i was wrong.
I have those notes too, i went to the lecture.
You're right...it does say that
I'm confused though...what are you asking again LOL

[Boots]

What to do...?

[littlebecc]

add at the end ... 'but as a meaningful whole' ??

[Boots]

haha...did your teacher actually tell you to do this?

and how would you define size constancy without using the word 'size'

[minilunchbox]

I went to a lecture today and she was very adamant about mentioning 'meaningful whole' for all the Gestalt Principles.

[littlebecc]

yeah  mini, i thought i was right! all gestalt principles mention meaningful whole to them. My teacher has repeated it many times.

"and how would you define size constancy without using the word 'size'"

Um, back of your textbook should have a definition. Mine includes size.

[Boots]

Interesting was this the Access lecture.

And what would be a proper answer for defining figure-ground mini?

Btw how did you go with ur uni assignment?

[Tashi]

haha...did your teacher actually tell you to do this?

and how would you define size constancy without using the word 'size'

I don't think you would need to because you are not defining the word 'size' but the concept 'size constancy'.

[minilunchbox]

Interesting was this the Access lecture.

And what would be a proper answer for defining figure-ground mini?

Btw how did you go with ur uni assignment?

Nah, it wasn't, but I did go to an Access one today and there was no mention of 'meaningful whole' in any definitions. Hmm.

Figure-ground:

'Separating important aspects of the visual field into a 'figure' which stands out from the 'ground' by using an actual or perceived contour to form a whole and meaningful image'

or if you don't want to use figure/ground in your defintion

'Gestalt principle whereby part of a stimulus appears to stand out as an object against a less prominemt background using actual or perceived coontours to form a whole and meaningful image'

About the assignment, ha I didn't do that great (which wasn't unexpected, I was absolutely clueless).

How's your RE hours coming along? I still have 1.5 hours. D: