Perception

Question 1

Sensation

Answer 1

The physical process of collecting data from the environment via the senses

Question 2

Perception

Answer 2

The cognitive process of interpreting data once it has been sensed

Question 3

Constancies (2)

Answer 3

1. Shape constancy- our tendency of seeing an object keep its shape even when seen from different angles
2. Colour constancy- our tendency to see colours remaining the same despite differences in lighting

Question 4

Depth perception

Answer 4

The ability of our eyes and brain to add a third dimension to everything that we see

Question 5

Depth cues (5)

Answer 5

1. Linear perspective- lines converging in the distance
2. Height in plane- Objects ‘higher’ are further away
3. Relative size- how big things are in comparison to one another
4. Superimposition- objects ‘blocking’ one another
5. Texture gradient- less defined texture with distance

Question 6

The Constructivist theory of perception

Answer 6

• The theory that perception is constructed using past experiences
• Supports Top-down processing
• Perceptual set
  1. Expectations
  2. Motivation

Question 7

Top-down processing

Answer 7

When perception is dominated by what we expect to see

Question 8

Perceptual set

Answer 8

A tendency to perceive something in line with what you expect based on past experience

Question 9

P Constructivist theory evaluation (3)

Answer 9

1. If perception is based on previous experience, this doesn’t explain why people tend to perceive the world in a similar way- suggests that the information is from our environment
2. If perception relies on previous experience, how do you explain a baby’s ability to perceive the world as they are shown to have a perceptual set early on
3. The effect of illusions weakens the constructivist theory as it would suggest that we would learn not to fool for the same illusion twice- but we often do

Question 10

P Alternative theory:

Nativist theory

Answer 10

• Perception is a result of bottom-up processing
• Perception is immediate and data-driven
• We have all evolved in the same way and so perceive our world in a similar way

Question 11

Bottom-up processing

Answer 11

When perception is dominated by what enters through the eyes

Question 12

Haber and Levin (2001)

Answer 12

• Procedure: Repeated measures design using 9 male college students with good eyesight. Estimating the distance to objects in three sections- 1) Objects of known size, 2) Objects of unknown size & 3) Geometric figures
• Results: Estimates were best for objects of known size
• Conclusion: Participants relied on past experiences to estimate the distances (supporting top-down processing, constructivist theory)

Question 13

Haber and Levin (2001) evaluation (3)

Answer 13

1. Unrepresentative sample cannot be generalised for the rest of the population
2. Low ecological validity due to artificial and unfamiliar task and setting, doesn’t relate to real life
3. How familiar the objects were to the participants is subjective, may’ve been a coincidence that known objects were more accurately perceived.

Question 14

Perception applications of research:

Advertising

Answer 14

Placement of adverts: Food adverts shown during a time where viewers are likely to be hungry means that they are likely to be better perceived > constructivist theory of motivation