Deck 4: Sensing and Perceiving

Question 1

Braden is a strict vegetarian. He is always on the alert in case a meal he eats as a restaurant might actually contain some meat. Last night he became convinced that a dish contained meat even when it did not. Which alternative best expresses this example in signal detection terms

A)Braden has an extreme response bias, resulting in many hits.
B)Braden has an extreme response bias, yielding many false alarms.
C)Braden has an extreme response bias, leading to many misses.
D)Braden is extremely sensitive, resulting in many hits.

Answer 1

Braden has an extreme response bias, yielding many false alarms.

Question 2

Events that occur below the absolute threshold are termed _________ stimuli

A)subconscious
B)subthreshold
C)preliminal
D)subliminal

Answer 2

subliminal

Question 3

Anna is reading her psychology text. The activation of receptors in her retina is called ________; her interpretation of the stimuli as particular words is termed _______.

A)perception; transduction
B)sensation; transduction
C)sensation; perception
D)transduction; perception

Answer 3

sensation; perception

Question 4

Your text reports a study by Karremans et al. (2006) in which students viewed letter strings on a screen. The strings were preceded either by the name of a popular beverage, or a nonsense anagram containing the same letters as the beverage's name. These stimuli were presented too quickly for the students to see them. Later, participants were asked if they would order the beverage at a café. What was the independent variable in the study What was the main result of the study

A)The independent variable was the stimulus preceding the letter string.Participants exposed to the name of the beverage were more likely to say they would order it than were participants exposed to nonsense anagrams.
B)The independent variable was the likelihood that participants would order the drink.Participants exposed to the name of the beverage were more likely to say they would order it than were participants exposed to nonsense anagrams.
C)The independent variable was the stimulus preceding the letter string.Participants exposed to the name of the beverage were no more likely to say they would order it than were participants exposed to nonsense anagrams.
D)The independent variable was the stimulus preceding the letter string.Participants exposed to the name of the beverage were less likely to say they would order it than were participants exposed to nonsense anagrams.

Question 5

Dr. Breiland examines the influence of physical stimuli on sensory perceptions and mental states. Which of the following terms most accurately describes Dr. Breiland's field of study

A)sensation
B)psychophysics
C)perception
D)experimental psychology

Question 6

A snack manufacturer finds that it must increase the salt content of its chips by 8 percent in order for a sample of consumers to notice that the chips are saltier than they were before. This example most nearly illustrates the concept of a(n):

A)absolute threshold
B)subliminal threshold
C)just noticeable difference
D)subliminal stimulus

Question 7

We can detect a single drop of perfume diffused in an area the size of a one-bedroom apartment. This is a(n):

A)absolute threshold
B)difference threshold
C)just noticeable difference
D)psychophysical minimum

Question 8

The stimulus intensity that one can just barely detect is termed the _______ threshold.

A)difference
B)absolute
C)adaptation
D)Weber

Question 9

For a given stimulus dimension, such as weight, a jnd is a:

A)fixed value
B)constant proportion
C)positive integer
D)variable proportion

Question 10

Regarding sensation and perception, which of the following statements is true

A)Perception generally precedes sensation in our processing of a stimulus.
B)Sensation and perception are essentially synonyms.
C)Sensation involves the interpretation of a stimulus, whereas perception does not.
D)Sensation involves the activation of sense receptors; perception involves interpretation.

Question 11

The field of psychophysics was founded by the German psychologist __________.

A)Weber
B)Wundt
C)Ebbinghaus
D)Fechner

Question 12

The function relating the value of a stimulus along some dimension to the just noticeable difference is known as __________'s law.

A)Tichener
B)Wundt
C)Weber
D)Jung

Question 13

Acme Foods wants to make its chips saltier, but it doesn't want to spend more than it has to on salt. A sample of consumers are asked to compare its current chip (saltiness = 100) with saltier versions and to say whether the new version is saltier. On average, sample consumers reliably say the new chip is saltier when its saltiness value is 108, but not when its saltiness value is below 108. Assuming Acme Foods' sample consumers are representative of people in general, which of the following best represents the JND for saltiness

A)8 percent
B)108
C)80 percent
D)100

Question 14

Arlene goes to her closet to look for her pink cashmere sweater. She looks but doesn't see it and says "my sweater isn't in the closet." Later, her roommate finds the sweater in the closet. In the language of signal detection analysis, Arlene's statement is a _________.

A)hit
B)false alarm
C)false rejection
D)miss

Question 15

Your text states that Trappey (1996) completed a statistical summary of the results of 23 studies on the influence of subliminal advertising. Recall Chapter 2 in your text: What is such a summary called What did Trappey find

A)Such a summary is called a meta-analysis.Trappey found that subliminal advertising had a dramatic effect on consumer choice.
B)Such a summary is called a meta-analysis.Trappey found that subliminal advertising had little if any effect on consumer choice.
C)Such a summary is called a meta-analysis.Trappey found that subliminal advertising had a moderate effect on consumer choice.
D)Such a summary is called a significance test.Trappey found that subliminal advertising had little if any effect on consumer choice.

Question 16

Which alternative pairs a signal detection outcome with the correct definition

A)hit; the observer responds "no" when the stimulus is not presented
B)miss; the observer responds "yes" when the stimulus is presented
C)false alarm; the observer responds "yes" when the stimulus is not presented
D)correct rejection; the observer responds "no" when the stimulus is presented

Question 17

Which signal detection outcomes represent erroneous responses

A)misses and false alarms
B)misses and hits
C)misses and correct rejections
D)correct rejections and false alarms

Question 18

The purpose of signal detection analysis is to:

A)identify the psychological effects of physical stimulation
B)determine a perceiver's cognitions
C)investigate an observer's subliminal perceptions
D)determine a perceiver's ability to distinguish true signals from background stimulation

Question 19

In the visual system, ganglion cells convert the light detected by the retina into electrical impulses, which then travel to the brain. This example illustrates the process of _________.

A)translation
B)transduction
C)detection
D)transmission

Question 20

Which of the following best defines the difference threshold (jnd)

A)the minimum absolute threshold
B)the maximum absolute threshold
C)the change in a stimulus that can just barely be detected
D)the minimum likelihood of a false alarm

Question 21

Which of the following sequences correctly orders the structures of the visual pathway, from the eye to the cortex

A)ganglion cells $\rightarrow$ occipital lobe $\rightarrow$ thalamus
B)thalamus $\rightarrow$ ganglion cells $\rightarrow$ occipital lobe
C)ganglion cells $\rightarrow$ thalamus $\rightarrow$ occipital lobe
D)thalamus $\rightarrow$ occipital lobe $\rightarrow$ ganglion cells

Question 22

Which of the following best defines the visual phenomenon of accommodation

A)A change in the retina that focuses the lens
B)A change in the lens that focuses light on the retina.
C)A change in the iris that moves light into the eye
D)A change in the cornea that prevents too much light from entering the eye.

Question 23

Abbie is nearsighted. Her vision defect reflects an error in _________, the process by which the __________ changes shape to focus an image on the retina.

A)accommodation; cornea
B)assimilation; lens
C)accommodation; pupil
D)accommodation; lens

Question 24

Which of the following sequences accurately reflects the order in which light passes through the structures of the eye during vision

A)pupil $\rightarrow$ cornea $\rightarrow$ lens $\rightarrow$ retina
B)pupil $\rightarrow$ lens $\rightarrow$ cornea $\rightarrow$ retina
C)lens $\rightarrow$ cornea $\rightarrow$ pupil $\rightarrow$ retina
D)cornea $\rightarrow$ pupil $\rightarrow$ lens $\rightarrow$ retina

Question 25

Subliminal advertising has only a minimal effect on consumer choice.

Question 26

The optic nerve is composed of axons of:

A)bipolar cells
B)ganglion cells
C)rods and cones
D)foveal cells

Question 27

What does the blindsight phenomenon imply with respect to the relationship between conscious awareness and perceptual processing

A)Conscious awareness is necessary for perceptual processing.
B)Conscious awareness is not necessary for perceptual processing.
C)Perceptual processing only occurs after conscious awareness.
D)Subliminal processing does not occur.

Question 28

Signal detection analysis aims to separate true sensitivity and response bias.

Question 29

Which of the following is the function of the iris

A)It reflects light away from the retina
B)It regulates the amount of light entering the eye
C)It contains the photoreceptor cells
D)It protects the eye

Question 30

Which of the following is the function of the cornea

A)It reflects light away from the retina
B)It regulates the amount of light entering the eye
C)It contains the photoreceptor cells
D)It protects the eye

Question 31

A participant in a psychophysics experiment indicates that she did not see rightward motion in a patch of dots on the computer screen, even though some of the dots moved slightly to the right. In signal detection terms, the participant's response is called a(n) __________.

Question 32

The jnd is a constant value.

Question 33

The difference threshold is also known as a(n) __________.

Question 34

The thin layer of receptors at the back of the eye is termed the __________.

A)retina
B)fovea
C)cornea
D)ganglion

Question 35

Which of the following is true about people with blindsight

A)They are unable to report on visual stimuli but can answer questions about those stimuli
B)They are unable to report on visual stimuli or to answer questions about those stimuli
C)They are able to report on visual stimuli but unable to answer questions about those stimuli
D)They are able to report on visual stimuli and can answer questions about those stimuli

Question 36

Dr. Garner studies the relationship between the objective brightness of visual stimuli and observers' subjective impression of their brightness. Dr. Garner is a(n) ___________.

Question 37

Which of the following is the function of the retina

A)It reflects light away from the retina
B)It regulates the amount of light entering the eye
C)It contains the photoreceptor cells
D)It protects the eye

Question 38

Which of the following structures of the eye is correctly matched with its function

A)cornea-focuses light on the retina
B)pupil-regulates the amount of light entering the eye
C)lens-contains the photoreceptor cells
D)retina - protects the eye

Question 39

Which of the following sequences accurately reflects the order in which light stimulates cells early in the visual processing of an image

A)bipolar cells $\rightarrow$ ganglion cells $\rightarrow$ rods and cones
B)bipolar cells $\rightarrow$ rods and cones $\rightarrow$ ganglion cells
C)ganglion cells $\rightarrow$ rods and cones $\rightarrow$ bipolar cells
D)rods and cones $\rightarrow$ bipolar cells $\rightarrow$ ganglion cells

Question 40

Which of the following statements most accurately describes the relationship between the electromagnetic spectrum and visible light

A)"The electromagnetic spectrum" is the same as "visible light."
B)The electromagnetic spectrum refers to a small portion of the spectrum of visible light.
C)A small portion of the electromagnetic spectrum is seen as visible light.
D)Most but not all of the electromagnetic spectrum is seen as visible light.

Question 41

The trichromatic theory of color perception is associated with:

A)Fechner
B)Helmholtz
C)Weber
D)Hitzig

Question 42

Artie organizes the binders in his office by color. This color-coding exemplifies the Gestalt principle of:

A)proximity
B)similarity
C)continuity
D)chromaticity

Question 43

Which of the following statements is true regarding the visual cortex

A)Many neurons in the visual cortex respond only to very specific visual features or stimuli.
B)Most neurons in the visual cortex respond to a broad array of visual features and stimuli.
C)Most neurons in the visual cortex respond to overall patterns, or 'gestalts."
D)Most neurons related to vision are near, but not in, the visual cortex.

Question 44

Which of the following best expresses the relationship between the retina and the fovea

A)The retina is part of the fovea.
B)The fovea is adjacent to the retina.
C)Light passes through the fovea on its way to the retina.
D)The fovea is part of the retina.

Question 45

Adelaide notices a flicker of motion out of the corner of her eye as she hurries down a dim alley late at night. Sydney deciphers a complex wiring diagram under the bright glare of her desk lamp. Adelaide's vision is driven mainly by her _________. Sydney is mainly using her ________.

A)cones; cones as well
B)rods; rods as well
C)cones; rods
D)rods; cones

Question 46

Approximately ______% of the population is color-blind. With respect to gender, color-blind individuals are mostly ________.

A)1; men
B)1; women
C)2; men
D)2; women

Question 47

Which of the following individuals is NOT one of the Gestalt psychologists

A)Helmholtz
B)Kohler
C)Koffka
D)Wertheimer

Question 48

Consider the figure within parentheses: (XX XX XX). That we perceive three pairs of Xs reflects the Gestalt principle(s) of:

A)similarity
B)continuity
C)figure/ground
D)proximity

Question 49

Which of the following statements best describes the path of optic nerve impulses in the brain

A)Impulses from the left eye travel to the right side of the brain; impulses from the right eye travel to the left side of the brain.
B)Impulses from the left eye travel to the left side of the brain; impulses from the right eye travel to the right side of the brain.
C)Impulses from the left eye travel to the left side of the brain; impulses from the right eye travel to both the right and left sides of the brain.
D)Impulses from the left half of each eye travel to the right side of the brain; impulses from the right half of each eye travel to the left side of the brain.

Question 50

Examining his doctor's handwriting on the prescription slip, Ben completes the gaps in some of the lower-case letters to perceive an a and an o rather than two u's. This example illustrates the Gestalt principle of:

A)closure
B)proximity
C)similarity
D)complexity

Question 51

Your text reports a study in which researchers disrupted face recognition areas of the cortex. Which brain study method were the researchers using What did they find

A)The method is called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).The researchers found that participants could not recognize faces, but could recognize houses.
B)The method is called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).The researchers found that participants could not recognize either faces or houses.
C)The method is called functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).The researchers found that participants could not recognize faces, but could recognize houses.
D)The method is called functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).The researchers found that participants could not recognize either faces or houses.

Question 52

Which of the following words is closest in meaning to that of the term gestalt

A)feature
B)sequence
C)component
D)pattern

Question 53

Suppose you stare at an illustration of the American flag for a while and then glance at a blank white page. Why do the red stripes look green when you glance at the blank page

A)Cones responsive to green light begin firing.
B)Cones responsive to red light stop firing.
C)Opponent-process cells activated by red light become fatigued.
D)Opponent-process cells activated by green light begin adapting.

Question 54

Rods are best at _____; cones are best at _____

A)detecting details and color; detecting black, white and gray
B)detecting black, white and gray; detecting details and color
C)detecting black and white; detecting gray
D)detecting color; detecting details

Question 55

Which of the following is true of the opponent-process theory of vision

A)Pairs of color-detecting cells operate together to produce color
B)Color-detecting cells operate independently to create the perception of red, white and blue
C)It assumes there are only two, rather than three, primary colors
D)It cannot explain color blindness

Question 56

Suppose each pixel on your TV screen or computer monitor codes the color of an image at that point in terms of red, blue, and green values. This closely resembles:

A)the way color is represented according to trichromatic theory
B)the way color is represented according to opponent-process theory
C)the way color is represented in both the trichromatic and the opponent-process theory
D)the way color is represented in the cornea

Question 57

In comparison to cones, rods

A)are more densely concentrated in the fovea
B)are more responsible for color perception
C)are more sensitive to light
D)are less numerous

Question 58

Hue is to brightness as ________ is to _________.

A)frequency; amplitude
B)amplitude; frequency
C)loudness; pitch
D)color; sound

Question 59

With respect to the trichromatic and opponent-process theories of color perception, which of the following statements is most accurate

A)Trichromatic theory has largely been discredited.
B)Opponent-process theory has largely been discredited.
C)Both trichromatic and opponent-process theories have largely been discredited and replaced by newer ideas.
D)The two processes work together to help us perceive color.

Question 60

Which of the following is NOT one of the shortcomings of trichromatic theory

A)It doesn't explain how colors other that red, blue, or green are perceived.
B)It doesn't offer an adequate explanation of the perception of afterimages.
C)It does not explain how color-blind individuals who cannot see red or green hues can still see yellow shades.
D)It does not explain why yellow does not seem to be a mix of other colors.

Question 61

Opponent-process theory has largely supplanted the trichromatic theory of color perception.

Question 62

In a beginning drawing class, your instructor suggests that an illusion of depth may be created in a two-dimensional picture by including parallel lines that converge at a vanishing point. Your instructor is making reference to a monocular depth cue known as:

A)interposition
B)linear perspective
C)relative size
D)position

Question 63

Gibson and Walk's (1960) 'visual cliff' studies revealed that:

A)even infants as young as 6 months of age perceive depth
B)infants do not perceive depth until they are at least 14 months of age
C)depth perception is very poor in infants
D)depth perception depends largely on experience

Question 64

You know that a passing bus is nearer than a parked car because the bus momentarily blocks your view of the car. This example illustrates the depth cue of ________.

A)position
B)linear perspective
C)aerial perspective
D)interposition

Question 65

Which of the following causes the beta effect

A)The actual movement of light
B)The amplitude of the wave
C)The frequency of the wave
D)Different images are presented next to each other in succession

Question 66

The cones are found mainly in and around the fovea.

Question 67

Which of the following causes the phi phenomenon

A)The actual movement of light
B)The amplitude of the wave
C)The frequency of the wave
D)The appearance and disappearance of objects

Question 68

The Gestalt psychologists were especially interested in the perception of form.

Question 69

The motion effect known as the ___________ contributed to the development of the ________ perspective in psychology.

A)alpha effect; Gestalt
B)phi phenomenon; cognitive
C)phi phenomenon; Gestalt
D)beta effect; cognitive

Question 70

Accommodation provides a cue to depth mainly at long viewing distances.

Question 71

Which of the following is NOT a binocular cue to depth perception

A)interposition
B)accommodation
C)convergence
D)binocular disparity

Question 72

Which of the following Gestalt laws is correctly defined

A)similarity - we tend to fill in small gaps in objects
B)continuity - stimuli resembling one another tend to be grouped together
C)proximity - stimuli near to one another tend to be grouped together
D)closure - stimuli are perceived in smooth, continuous ways

Question 73

The Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains may owe their names to the fact that the distant peaks look bluish-gray and hazy, reflecting a ________ depth cue termed ________.

A)monocular; aerial perspective
B)binocular; aerial perspective
C)monocular; linear perspective
D)binocular; linear perspective

Question 74

Which of the following terms is the best synonym for "disparity"

A)depth
B)constancy
C)difference
D)similarity

Question 75

The development of depth perception depends substantially on experience.

Question 76

The difference between the image of a scene received by the right eye and that received by the left eye can serve as a depth cue termed

A)binocular disparity
B)binocular convergence
C)linear perspective
D)ocular accommodation

Question 77

The ________ effect enables the perception of motion in movies.

A)alpha
B)beta
C)psi
D)phi

Question 78

From the window of an office on a skyscraper's 90th floor, taxis on the street look tiny. Of course, you know they're not toy cars; you're just really far up. This example illustrates the ________ depth cue of _________.

A)monocular; linear perspective
B)binocular; relative size
C)monocular; relative size
D)binocular; aerial perspective

Question 79

You are standing on the beach; the sea is choppy. You observe that the crests of distant waves appear not only smaller, but also higher in your field of vision than do the crests of waves nearer to the beach. Which two monocular depth cues does this example illustrate

A)linear perspective and position
B)relative size and linear perspective
C)position and aerial perspective
D)relative size and position

Question 80

Which depth cue is correctly matched with a description

A)interposition - smaller objects are seen as more distant
B)aerial perspective - parallel lines appear to converge with increasing distance
C)relative size - when one object overlaps a second, we perceive the second as more distant
D)position - objects higher in the field of vision are perceived as more distant