Chapter 2: Research Methodology

Question 1

Scoville Scale

Answer 1

A measure of our detection of the amount of an ingredient called capsaicin in chili peppers

Question 2

Capsaicin

Answer 2

The active ingredient in chili peppers that provides the experience of hotness, piquancy or spiciness

Question 3

Psychophysical scale

Answer 3

A scale on which people rate their psychological experiences as a function of the level of a physical stimulus

Question 4

Method of Limits

Answer 4

Stimuli are presented in a graduated scale, and participants must judge the stimuli along a certain property that goes up or down

Question 5

Absolute threshold

Answer 5

The smallest amount of a stimulus necessary to allow an observer to detect its presence

Question 6

Difference Threshold (JND)

Answer 6

The smallest difference between two stimuli that can be reliably detected

Question 7

Ascending series

Answer 7

A series in which a stimulus gets increasingly larger along a physical dimension

Question 8

Descending series

Answer 8

A series in which a stimulus gets increasingly smaller along a physical dimension

Question 9

Crossover point

Answer 9

The point at which a person changes from detecting to not detecting a stimulus or vice versa

Question 10

Two-point touch threshold

Answer 10

The minimum distance at which two touches are perceived as two touches and not one

Question 12

Method of constant stimuli

Answer 12

A method whereby the threshold is determined by presenting the observer with a set of stimuli, some above threshold and some below it, in a random order

Question 13

Method of adjustment

Answer 13

A method whereby the observer controls the level of the stimulus and “adjusts” it to be at the perceptual threshold

Question 14

Point of subjectivity equality (PSE)

Answer 14

The settings of two stimuli at which the observer experiences them as identical

Question 15

Sensitivity

Answer 15

The ability to perceive a particular stimulus; it is inversely related to threshold

Question 16

Magnitude estimation

Answer 16

A psychological method in which participants judge and assign numerical estimates to the perceived strength of a stimulus

Question 17

Response compression

Answer 17

As the strength of a stimulus increases, so does the perceptual response, but the perceptual response does not increase by as much as the stimulus increases

Question 18

Steven’s power law

Answer 18

A mathematical formula that describes the relationship between stimulus intensity and our perception; it allows for both response compression and response expansion

Question 19

Catch trial

Answer 19

A trial in which the stimulus is not presented

Question 20

Forced-choice method

Answer 20

A psychophysical method in which a participant is required to report when or where a stimulus occurs instead of whether it was perceived

A method often used by researchers since it decreases the need for catch trials by having the participants be detailed with the responses they give.

Question 21

Signal detection theory

Answer 21

The theory that in every sensory detection or discrimination, there is both sensory sensitivity to the stimulus and a criterion used to make a cognitive decision

Question 22

False alarm

Answer 22

In signal detection analysis, a false alarm is an error that occurs when a nonsignal is mistaken for a target signal

Question 23

Miss

Answer 23

In signal detection analysis, a miss is an error that occurs when an incoming signal is not detected

Question 24

Correct rejection

Answer 24

In signal detection analysis, a correct rejection occurs when a nonsignal is dismissed as not present

Question 25

Hit

Answer 25

In signal detection analysis, a hit occurs when a signal is detected when the signal is present

Question 26

Criterion

Answer 26

A bias that can affect the rate of hits and false alarms.

Question 27

Sensitivity (signal detection theory)

Answer 27

The ease or difficulty with which an observer can distinguish signal from noise

Question 28

d’ (d prime)

Answer 28

A mathematical measure of sensitivity

Question 29

Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve

Answer 29

In signal detection theory, a plot of false alarms versus hits for any given sensitivity, indicating all possible outcomes for a given sensitivity

Question 30

Electroencephalogrpahy (EEG)

Answer 30

Using electrodes to measure the electrical output of the brain by recording electric current at the scalp

Question 31

Magnetoencephalography (MEG)

Answer 31

Using a magnetic sensor to detect the small magnetic fields produced by electrical activity in the brain

Question 32

Transmagnetic stimulation (TMS)

Answer 32

A procedure in which a magnetic coil is used to stimulate electrically a specific region of the brain

Question 33

Masking

Answer 33

Refers to the difficulty in seeing one stimulus when it is quickly replaced by a second stimulus that occupies the same or adjacent spatial locations

Question 34

Sensorineural hearing loss

Answer 34

Permanent hearing loss caused by damage to the cochlea or auditory nerve or the primary auditory cortex

Question 35

Conductive hearing loss

Answer 35

The inability of sound to be transmitted to the cochlea

Question 36

Audiologist

Answer 36

A trained professional who specializes in diagnosing hearing impairments

Question 37

Audiometer

Answer 37

A device that can present tones of different frequencies, from low in pitch to high in pitch, at different volumes from soft to loud

Question 38

Audiogram

Answer 38

A graph that illustrates the thresholds for the frequencies as measured by the audiometer

Question 39

Optometrist

Answer 39

A trained professional who specializes in diagnosing visual impairments and diseases

Question 40

An example of "Response Expansion"

Answer 40

An example of response expansion is pain in the form of receiving electric shocks since the strength of the stimulus (electric shocks) increases the perceptual response (pain).

Question 41

Kai has trouble reading the screen during class lectures. His optometrist is most likely to diagnose him with ______.

Answer 41

myopia

Question 42

The limitation of ROC curves is that they can capture only one aspect of signal detection theory per graph. T/F

Answer 42

False

Question 43

What is the purpose of a psychophysical scale?

Answer 43

to rate psychological experiences relative to physical experiences

Question 44

What is the difference threshold?

Answer 44

the smallest detectable difference between two stimuli

Question 45

EEG technology allows researchers to determine the time course of perceptual processes in the brain. T/F

Answer 45

True

Question 46

What does an audiometer do?

Answer 46

It presents tones at different frequencies to assess hearing loss.

Question 47

Approximately 15% of adults 65 years and older have some form of hearing impairment. T/F

Answer 47

False

Question 48

Which neuroscience method is most appropriate for studying how the brain reacts to visual input?

Answer 48

fMRI

Question 49

In masking studies, sensitivity is usually measured in terms of ______.

Answer 49

d' analyses

Question 50

A permanent hearing loss caused by damage to the cochlea or auditory nerve is known as ______ hearing loss.

Answer 50

sensorineural

Question 51

Which of the following is a condition in which inadequate levels of sound reach the cochlea?

Answer 51

conductive hearing loss