Binocular rivalry project different images to the observer’s eyes, hence

creating mutually exclusive images according to the observer’s report (Blake

& Logothetis, 2002). Therefore, the experiment relies on the report whether
observers are conscious of one of the images which provides a chance for
comparison by the experimenter. Also, different images are manipulated to be
seen in observer’s eyes so that only one of the two images can be conscious
in order to compare the conscious and unconscious condition by the
experimenter. So, it is shown that binocular rivalry could be a combination of
the two approaches.
Reference:
Blake, Randolph; Logothetis, Nikos K. (1 January 2002). "Visual competition". Nature Reviews

Neuroscience. 3 (1): 13–21. doi:10.1038/nrn701