Smallest-space analysis of visual pursuit in children

A three-dimensional model of visual pursuit was tested using data of Roach and Kephart (1966) for 200 elementary school children and the recently developed nonmetric multidimensional scaling procedure of smallest-space analysis. The latter technique was briefly reviewed and contrasted with traditional factor analysis. Two dimensions were clearly identified by smallest-space analysis as Monocular-Binocular Tracking and Laterality; a third dimension, Direction of Pursuit, was less well identified. The usefulness of smallest-space analysis in identifying the dimensionality of such multivariate data gathered under naturalistic conditions, where metrical assumptions may not always be met, was argued. That the dimensionality may be influenced by experimental factors, as well as perhaps age, sex, organicity, etc., was mentioned, and suggestions for further research were made.