Abstract
Due to the influence of COVID-19, the experiment was conducted online in laboratory training. This study examined the effects of proximity and continuity on amodal completion. This study focused on the effects of proximity and continuity as conditions under which two bars touched the top and bottom sides of a large rectangle were perceived to be connected as one bar behind the rectangle (6.0cm high, 12.0cm width). Actually, the perceived length was different for each participant. The position of the upper bar is fixed at 3.0 cm from the left side of the rectangle, and at 30 degrees. Five conditions were set for the angle and position of the lower bar based on the position and angle of the upper bar. The two bars were spatially closest to each other in the 0.0 cm condition. When the angle of the lower bar was 0.0 degrees, it was the same angle as the upper bar. The contact point of the lower bar with the rectangle was aligned with the upper bar in the 9.0 cm condition. 127 university students participated in this experiment. Some participants observed with their laptops and some with their smartphones. There was no difference in results by their devices. Each participant observed only one angular condition. The order in which the position conditions were presented was different for each angle condition. We classified the participants' descriptions into three categories whether the two bars appear to be connected as a single bar, to be separated into two bars, or to appear to be a single figure as a whole. 85% of participants reported a single bar in the 9.0 cm and 0.0 degrees condition. In terms of Gestalt grouping, it was tended to perceive them together in good continuity, not in proximity.