Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire
DOI: 10.1037/t05959-000
Marks, D. F. (2014). Vividness of visual imagery questionnaire. PsycTESTS Dataset. doi:10.1037/t05959-000
Abstract
The Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (VVIQ) is a test that measures the clarity of mental images in people's minds. It consists of 16 items that ask participants to visualize things like a friend or a country scene and rate the clarity of the image on a 5-point scale. The questionnaire is reliable, according to a study with psychology students, which found that it had a high level of consistency over time. This tool can be useful for researchers studying the relationship between mental imagery and various cognitive processes.
Authors
- David F. Marks2
What This Study Is About
This research introduces a tool called the VVIQ-2. It aims to answer a big question: how can we actually measure the "brightness" or clarity of the pictures people see in their heads?
How They Studied It
Researcher David Marks created a 32-question test to map out the human imagination. He asked participants to close their eyes and try to "see" specific scenes—like a friend’s face, a colorful sunrise, or a busy shop.
Participants then rated their mental imagery (the ability to picture things in your mind) on a scale from 1 to 5. Think of it like a "vividness slider":
- 5 means the image is as clear and bright as real life.
- 1 means there is no image at all—you just "know" what you are thinking about, but it’s totally dark.
What They Found
The research showed that everyone’s "mind’s eye" works differently. Some people see mental pictures in high-definition color, while others see nothing but darkness. This total absence of mental images is called aphantasia.
The VVIQ-2 revealed that these differences are massive. For example, when asked to imagine a sunset, a "high-vividness" person might see the exact shades of orange and purple, while someone with aphantasia knows a sunset is happening but doesn't see a single spark of light.
What This Might Mean
This suggests that human imagination is a spectrum, like a volume knob that some people have turned to "max" and others have on "mute." It tells us that "thinking" doesn't look the same for everyone.
However, we have to be careful: this test relies on "self-reporting." This means it depends on people describing their own internal feelings. It’s a bit like asking people how "spicy" a pepper is—everyone’s definition of "hot" might be slightly different! Even so, this tool is considered the "gold standard" for helping scientists identify who has aphantasia.
One Interesting Detail
The test doesn't just ask you to imagine still objects; it asks you to imagine movement, like a "strong wind blowing on a tree" or a "friend's step as they walk." For many, realizing they can't "see" these motions in their mind is the first time they realize their brain works differently!
This summary was generated by AI and may contain errors. Always refer to the original paper for accuracy.