Biased Judgements of Euro Coins’ sizes: Stimuli-specific and Interindividual Suggestive Effects

Abstract

Suggestibility regarding the biased estimations of Euro coins from alleged different countries was examined. It was predicted that images regarding different nations would affect these estimations. In an experimental between-subjects design, 160 German participants had to rate the size of the image of a Euro coin. Across all conditions it was the same image, but the background information about the coin’s origin was different: Participants were told that this coin was Dutch, French, German or Portuguese.
Significant differences for the resulting estimates were identified across experimental conditions and in regard to participants’ age. The alleged Portuguese coin was rated to be relatively small; older participants estimated this coin to be smaller than younger participants did. For the supposed German coin, this correlation was reversed. Implications for future research are discussed.