Chapter 1: Introduction

Question 1

What are the 7 steps in the perceptive process?

Answer 1

1. Environmental stimulus
2. Light is reflected and transformed
3. Receptor processes
   4 Neural processes
4. Perception
5. Recognition
6. Action

Question 2

What is the Principle Of Transformation?

Answer 2

According to the principle of transformation, a stimulus and the perception of that stimulus are not the same. There is a transformation from the stimulus, to electromagnetic energy (light), to electrical signals (neural firing).

Question 3

Define Transduction

Answer 3

Transduction is the process of environ energy changing into neural impulses

Question 4

What senses are the 
A. Occipital
B. Parietal
C. Temporal
...lobes primarily accountable for?

Answer 4

A. Vision
B. Skin senses
C. Hearing

Question 5

Perception and recognition are interchangeable steps in the perceptive process. What is the difference bt the two?

Answer 5

Perception is conscious experience.

Recognition is giving objects meaning by categorizing.

Question 6

According to Goodale, visual processing was not to create a conscious perception. It was for…

Answer 6

Survival early in evolution

Question 7

Define Bottom-Up Processing aka Data Based Processing

Answer 7

Processing based on incoming stimuli

Question 8

Define Top-Down Processing aka Knowledge Based Processing

Answer 8

Processing based on perceiver’s previous knowledge.

Top-down processing is nearly always involved except when dealing with very simple stimuli.

Question 9

Define Psychophysics

Answer 9

Joint study of stimuli (physics) and behavioral perception (psychology).

Question 10

What relationships do the physiological approach to perception focus on?

Answer 10

Stimuli + Physical response

Physical response + behavioral response

Question 11

What is Detection aka Discrimination?

Answer 11

The original set of psychophysical methods developed by Gustav Fechner (1800s)

Question 12

Define Absolute Threshold

Answer 12

The smallest amount of energy needed to detect a stimulus.

The actual is a gradual shift to awareness of a stimulus

Question 13

What are the 3 methods used to measure absolute threshold?

Answer 13

1. Method of adjustment: observer adjusts the stimulus intensity to find threshold multiple times, measurements are averaged
2. Method of limits: experimenter controls multiple times, starting at different intensities and gradually increasing/decreasing, measurements are averaged
3. Method of constant stimuli: set range, each intensity is presented x20 in random order, the 50% point is found using psychometric function

Question 14

Define the Difference Threshold/Just Noticeable Difference

Answer 14

The smallest difference between 2 stimuli that a person can detect

Question 15

What is the formula for Weber’s Law? What does it measure?

Answer 15

Weber’s Law measures the Difference Threshold.

JND/S=K(constant)

Question 16

Define Magnitude Estimation (Suprathreshold)

Answer 16

The relationship between perceived magnitude and stimulus intensity

Question 17

How is Magnitude Estimation measured?

Answer 17

• A stimulus is presented as the standard
• The subject assigns a value to that stimulus
• Subsequent stimuli are rated relative to the standard

Question 18

Define Response Expansion and Response Compression

Answer 18

Response Expansion: perceptual magnitude increases more than intensity

Response Compression: perceptual magnitude increases slower than intensity

Question 19

What is Steven’s Power Law formula? What does it measure?

Answer 19

The Power Law measures magnitude estimation.

P=KS^n

Converted into logarithms, the function becomes a straight line