Rigidity and instructions in relation to two-flash fusion measures

Abstract

It has been suggested that scores from constant-stimuli procedures with signal-detection analyses may be influenced by a personality variable termed “rigidity.” To test this in connection with the discrimination of temporally paired flashes, high-rigidity and low-rigidity Ss were given both facilitating and inhibiting instructions with the two-flash fusion task. Signal-detection analyses indicated significantly higher threshold measures under both conditions for low-ridigity Ss. Inhibiting instructions raised both threshold and criterion scores for both groups, the low-rigidity group showing the greater criterion shift.