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Reachability does not explain the middle preference: a comment on Bar-Hillel (2015)
Rodway, Paul Schepman, Astrid Thoma, Volker
Rodway, Paul
Schepman, Astrid
Thoma, Volker
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Publication Date
2016-03-28
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Abstract
Choosing an object from an array of similar objects is a task that people complete frequently throughout their lives (e.g. choosing a can of soup from many cans of soup). Research has also demonstrated that items in the middle of an array or scene are looked at more often and are more likely to be chosen. This middle preference is surprisingly robust and widespread, having been found in a wide range of perceptual-motor tasks. In a recent review of the literature Bar-Hillel (2015) proposes, among other things, that the middle preference is largely explained by the middle item being easier to reach, either physically or mentally. We specifically evaluate Bar-Hillel’s reachability explanation for choice in non-interactive situations in light of evidence showing an effect of item valence on such choices. This leads us to conclude that the center-stage heuristic account is a more plausible explanation of the middle preference.
Citation
Rodway, P., Schepman, A., & Thoma, V. (2016). Reachability does not explain the middle preference: A comment on Bar-Hillel (2015). i-Perception, March-April, 1-5.
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Journal
i-Perception
Research Unit
DOI
10.1177/2041669516639959
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PubMed Central ID
Type
Article
Language
en
Description
Series/Report no.
ISSN
2041-6695
EISSN
2041-6695