Participants were tested in small groups.
One of the four elevator-sign booklets and a response sheet were distributed to each participant. Then, the
experimenter read aloud a set of instructions that noted
(a) they should rate each sign on the two questions
before turning to the next sign, (b) they should rate the
signs in the order that they appear in the booklets and
(c) they should not preview later pages in their
booklets or refer back or change their ratings to the
signs on earlier-viewed signs. After participants
completed their evaluations, the experimenter asked
them to turn over their response sheet and write out as
completely as possible their interpretation and purpose
of the signs. Lastly, the materials were collected and
the participants were debriefed, given research credit
and thanked.