Effects of visual cues on assessment of water quality

Photographs of a freshwater harbour and contiguous wetlands were electronically scanned and then altered, to study effects of visual cues of water quality on various judgments. Subjects viewed the images on a computer monitor and indicated their ratings by clicking a ‘mouse’. Effects were assessed by between-group comparisons of responses to pictures that differed only in focal cues. Rubbish, aquatic vegetation, surface foam, a posted health …