Why is the Effect of Familiar Size Stronger for Larger Stimuli than for Smaller Stimuli?

Data indicates that the effect of familiar size is effective for objects larger in size than the objects that the subjects were familiar with. This effect did not take place when an object smaller than the familiar object was presented. To test Lawrence and Yonas’ (2023) hypothesis, a replication of the study was conducted with the addition of two more experimental groups. The familiar subjects were all allowed to touch the object in Lawrence and Yonas’ (2023) study, so groups were added in which participants were not permitted to touch the objects. Two groups were added: one group learned about the size of objects at a distance that would match the visual angles of the smaller objects, and one group that were familiarized with a visual angle matching the larger objects. This made it possible to test the effects of tactile and kinesthetic information on the process of familiarization and its effect on familiar size.