A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

Which animal showed the poorest performance on the visual cliff in the Gibson and Walk study?

1. Chicks

2. Kittens

3. Turtles

4. Rats

The correct answer is: Turtles

In the study conducted by Gibson and Walk on the visual cliff, the visual cliff apparatus was used to assess depth perception in various animals. Turtles demonstrated the poorest performance on the visual cliff, which can be attributed to their unique behavioral and physiological adaptations. Unlike the other animals tested, turtles rely more heavily on tactile information than binocular vision for depth perception. This difference means they do not perceive visual cues in the same way, causing them to show less innate fear of the visual cliff, irrespective of the drop-off. Chicks and kittens, in contrast, exhibit a more developed visual system that allows them to utilize depth perception more effectively, while rats are more agile and capable of navigating such visual stimuli. Hence, the findings highlight how different species may perceive depth based on their evolutionary adaptations, leading to turtles performing the worst in this specific visual task.