study guide chpt. 1

Question 1

Perceptual Process

Answer 1

the perceptual process works together to determine our experience of and reaction to stimuli in the environment

Question 2

Top down processing

Answer 2

(knowledge based)

when you use the knowledge you’ve already acquired to help with the perceptual situation

Question 3

bottom up processing

Answer 3

(data based)

when you use the image on your retina to help

Question 4

Pp

Answer 4

Psychophysical is the relationship between stimuli and perception

Question 5

PH1

Answer 5

physiological relationship between stimuli and physiological processes

Question 6

PH2

Answer 6

Physiological relationship between perception adn physiological processes; seeing through an fmri

Question 7

Pp, PH1 and PH2

Answer 7

these stages are interconnected and communicate with one another

Question 8

Psychophysics

Answer 8

classic and modern methods for measuring perception

-any measurement of the relationship between sensation and perception

Question 9

Psychophysics methods of measurement

Answer 9

qualitative: Describing, recognizing
Quantitative: detecting (limits, adjustment, constant stimuli), perceiving magnitude and searching

Question 10

Describing

Answer 10

indicating when a particular perception occurs or to describe what he or she is perceiving (phenomenological method)
ex: all of the HSU students at the football game are wearing green and yellow.”

Question 11

recognizing

Answer 11

when we categorize a specific stimulus “number 12 is the other team’s quarterback.”

Question 12

detecting

Answer 12

becoming aware of a barely detectable aspect of a stimulus “ that lineman moved slightly just before the ball was snapped.”

Question 13

perceiving magnitude

Answer 13

being aware of the size or the intensity of a stimuli. “I’m looking for Don in the crowd.”

Question 14

Difference threshold

Answer 14

it is the smallest difference between two stimuli that a person can detect. Weight example: “the difference threshold is the difference between the standard and comparison weights when the observer first says ‘different’.

Question 15

absolute threshold

Answer 15

is one thing and you can hear 50% of the time

-the smallest amount of stimulus energy necessary to detect a stimulus

Question 16

Weber’s Law

Answer 16

DL/S=K (feedback, different for each sense; difference threshold)
K=constant

Question 17

why is there a difference response criteria between participants when measuring absolute threshold?

Answer 17

because each person’s response criterion is different but their sensitivity level may be the same

Question 18

magnitude estimation

Answer 18

thinking it’s higher or lower than it really is

Question 19

steven’s power law

Answer 19

relationship between the magnitude of a physical stimulus and its perceived intensity or strength
-law concerning the relationship between physical intensity of a stimulus and a person’s perception of it’s magnitude