Module #7 - Perception

Question 1

Gestalt

Answer 1

The whole, or the organizational patterns that we tend to perceive; the Gestalt psychologists emphasized that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
By breaking experiences into their basic parts, something important is lost.

Question 2

Figure-Ground

Answer 2

The organization of the visual field into objects (figures) that stand out from their surroundings (ground).

Question 3

Grouping Principles

Answer 3

The perceptual tendency to organize stimuli into understandable units.

Question 4

Similarity

Answer 4

The tendency to place items that look similar into a group.

Question 5

Proximity

Answer 5

The tendency to place objects that are physically close to each other in a group.

Question 6

Closure

Answer 6

The tendency to look at the whole by filling in the gaps in a perceptual field.

Question 7

Continuity

Answer 7

The tendency to perceive that movement of an object continues once it appears to move in a particular direction.

Question 8

The grouping principles are…

Answer 8

Similarity
Proximity
Closure
Continuity

Question 9

Depth Perception

Answer 9

The ability to see in three dimensions and judge distance.

Question 10

Visual Cliff

Answer 10

A laboratory device for testing depth perception in infant and young animals.
Shows that depth perception, to some extent, is inborn.

Question 11

Binocular Cues

Answer 11

Depth cues that require the use of both eyes.

Question 12

Retinal Disparity

Answer 12

A binocular depth cue resulting from slightly different images produced by the retina of the left and the retina of the right eye.
Most effective when the item is quite close to the person.

Question 13

Convergence

Answer 13

A binocular depth cue related to the tension in the eye muscles when the eyes track inward to focus on objects close to the viewer.
The more tension in the eye muscle, the closer the object is. Works best at close distances.

Question 14

Relative size

Answer 14

Using the perceived size of a familiar object to determine depth. The larger the object appears, the closer the object is to the viewer.

Question 15

Relative motion

Answer 15

A person who is moving can determine depth by focusing on a distant object.

Question 16

Interposition (overlap)

Answer 16

Method of determining depth by noting that closer objects partially obstruct the more distant objects.

Question 17

Relative height

Answer 17

Method of determining depth by noting that distant objects appear higher in your field of vision than do closer objects.

Question 18

Texture Gradient

Answer 18

Method of determining depth by noting that distant objects have a smoother texture than nearby objects.

Question 19

Relative clarity

Answer 19

Method of determining depth by noting that distant objects are less clear than nearby objects. Tends to work outdoors.

Question 20

Linear Perspective

Answer 20

Method of determining depth by noting that parallel lines appear to converge in the distance. The lines appear to eventually merge on the horizon.

Question 21

Perceptual Constancy

Answer 21

Perceiving the size, shape, and lightness of an object as unchanging.

Question 22

Size Constancy

Answer 22

A person’s understanding that as an object moves further or closer to them it’s actual size stays the same.

Question 23

Shape Constancy

Answer 23

The understanding that an object’s shape remains the same even though the angle of view makes the shape appear changed.

Question 24

Perceptual Set

Answer 24

A mental predisposition to perceive something one way and not another.
Example of top-down processing.
Influence of the power of suggestion (subliminal perception).
Guided by schemas (concepts or mental frameworks that organize and interpret information)

Question 25

Illusions

Answer 25

Misinterpreting sensory stimuli. Help researches understand how sensation and perception normally work.