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Psychology > Topic A - Perception (Key Words) > Flashcards

Topic A - Perception (Key Words) Flashcards

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1
Q

Perception

A

The way the brain makes sense of the visual image detected by the eyes.

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2
Q

Retina

A

The light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. It is made up of nerve cells called rods and cones.

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3
Q

Rods

A

Light-sensitive cells in the retina that respond even in dim light.

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4
Q

Cones

A

Light-sensitive cells in the retina that can detect color.

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5
Q

Optic nerve

A

Bundle of nerve cells that leads out from the retina at the back of the eye. It carries information from the rods and cones to the brain.

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6
Q

Blindspot

A

The area of the retina where the optic nerve leaves. It has no rods of cones so cannot detect light.

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7
Q

Optic chiasma

A

The cross-shape where some of the information from the left and right eye crosses over to pass into the opposite side of the brain.

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8
Q

Visual cortex

A

The area at the back of the brain that interprets visual information.

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9
Q

Depth cues

A

The visual ‘clues’ that we use to understand depth or distance.

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10
Q

Monocular depth cues

A

Information about distance that comes from one eye, such as superimposition, relative size, texture gradient, linear perspective and height in the plane.

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11
Q

Binocular depth cues

A

Information about distance that needs two eyes, such as stereopsis.

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12
Q

Size constancy

A

We perceive an object as the same size when its distance from us changes.

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13
Q

Relative size

A

Smaller objects are perceived as further away than larger ones.

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14
Q

Texture gradient

A

An area with a detailed pattern is perceived to be nearer than one with less detail.

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15
Q

Height in the plane

A

Objects closer to the horizon are perceived to be more distant than ones below or above the horizon.

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16
Q

Superimposition

A

A partly hidden object must be further away than the object covering it.

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17
Q

Linear perspective

A

Parallel lines appear to converge in the distance.

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18
Q

Stereopsis

A

The greater the difference between the view seen by the left eye and the right eye, the closer the viewer is looking.

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19
Q

Gestalt laws

A

Perceptual rules that organize stimuli.

‘The whole is worth more than the sum of the parts’

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20
Q

Figure-ground

A

A small, complex, symmetrical object (the figure) is seen as separate from a background (the ground).

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21
Q

Similarity

A

Figures sharing size, shape or color are grouped together with other things that look the same.

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22
Q

Proximity

A

Objects which are close together are perceived to be related.

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23
Q

Continuity

A

Straight lines, curves and shapes are perceived to carry on being the same.

24
Q

Closure

A

Lines or shapes are perceived as complete figures, even if parts are missing.

25
Q

Visual illusion

A

A conflict between reality and what we perceive.

26
Q

Fiction

A

An illusion caused when a figure is perceived even though it is not present in the stimulus.

27
Q

Illusory contour

A

A boundary (edge) that is perceived in a figure but is not present in the stimulus.

28
Q

Motion after-effect

A

An illusion caused by paying attention to movement in one direction and perceiving movement in the opposite direction immediately afterwards.

29
Q

Color after-effect

A

An illusion caused by focusing on a colored stimulus and perceiving opposite colors immediately afterwards.

30
Q

Ambiguous figure

A

A stimulus with two possible interpretations, in which is is possible to perceive only one of the alternatives at any time.

31
Q

Distortion illusion

A

Where our perception is deceived by some aspect of the stimulus. This can affect the shape or size of an object.

32
Q

Independent variable

A

The factor which is changed by the researcher in an experiment to make two or more conditions.

33
Q

Dependent variable

A

The factor which is measured in an experiment.

34
Q

Schema

A

A framework of knowledge about an object, event or group of people that can affect our perception and help us organize information and recall what we have seen.

35
Q

Perceptual set

A

The tendency to notice some things more than others. This can be caused by experience, context or expectations.

36
Q

Serial reproduction

A

A task where a piece of information is passed from one participant to the next in a ‘chain’ or ‘series’. Differences between each version are measured.

37
Q

Repeated reproduction

A

A task where the participant is given a story or picture to remember. They then recall it several times after time delays. Differences between each version are measured.

38
Q

Reconstructive memory

A

Recalled material is not just a ‘copy’ of what we see or hear. Information is stored and when it is remembered it is ‘rebuilt’ so can be affected by extra information (like schemata) we might already have.

39
Q

Experiment

A

A research method which measures participants’ performance in two or more conditions.

40
Q

Experimental (participant) design

A

The way that participants are sued in different conditions in an experiment. They may all do all conditions or different participants may do each condition.

41
Q

Independent groups design

A

Different participants are used in each condition in an experiment.

42
Q

Repeated measures design

A

The same participants are used in all the condition in an experiment.

43
Q

Hypothesis

A

A testable statement of the difference between the conditions in an experiment. It describes how the independent variable will affect the dependent variable.

44
Q

Controls

A

Ways to keep variables constant in all conditions of an experiment.

45
Q

Mode

A

An average that is the most common score or response in a set.

46
Q

Descriptive statistics

A

Ways to summarize results from a study. They can show a typical or average score or how spread out the results are.

47
Q

Bar chart

A

A graph with separate bars. Usually there is one bar for each condition in an experiment.

48
Q

Median

A

An average that is the middle number in a set of scores when they are put in order from smallest to largest.

49
Q

Mean

A

An average that is calculated by adding up all the scores in a set and dividing by the number of scores.

50
Q

Range

A

A way to show how spread out a set of results is by looking at the biggest and smallest scores.

51
Q

Ethical issues

A

Potential psychological or physical risks for people in experiments.

52
Q

Informed consent

A

An individual’s right to know what will happen in an experiment, and its aims, before agreeing to participate.

53
Q

Right to withdraw

A

A participant’s right to leave a study at any time and their ability to do so.

54
Q

Ethical guidelines

A

Advice to help psychologists solve ethical issues.

55
Q

Eyewitness

A

Somebody who sees a crime or aspects of a crime scene and who helps the police to find out what has happened or to catch whoever was responsible.

Psychology (10 decks)

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