Visual perception of dynamic properties: Cue heuristics versus direct-perceptual competence

Constructivist and Gibsonian approaches disagree over the possibility of di rect perceptual use of advanced information. A trenchant instance concerns visual perception of underlying dynamic properties as specified by kinemati c patterns of events. For the paradigmatic task of discrimination of relati ve mass in observed collisions, 2 mathematical models are developed, 1 mode l representing a direct, invariant-based approach, and 1 representing a cue -heuristic approach. The models enable a critical experimental design with distinct predictions concerning performance data and confidence ratings. Al though pretraining results were mixed, the invariant-based model was empiri cally confirmed after a minimal amount of training: Competence entails the use of advanced kinematic information in a direct-perceptual ("sensory") mo de of apprehension, in contrast to beginners' use of simpler cues in an inf erential ("cognitive") mode.