Deck 4: Section 3: Sensation and Perception

Question 1

Scenario I
A psychologist interested in studying visual perception manipulates the brightness of a light in the imperceptible to very dim range. Each level of brightness (measured in lumens) is studied for 10 trials, and on each trial participants are asked if they can detect the light. Figure 4.1 shows hypothetical data from one participant.
Figure 4.1
(Scenario I) What the participants perceive as the brightness of the light is determined by the _____ of the light wave.

A)color
B)frequency
C)amplitude
D)purity

Answer 1

amplitude

Question 2

Scenario II
While we effortlessly identify most objects by sight, the mechanisms underlying how and where we make these identifications are matters of theoretical and empirical debate. According to image-based theories, previously identified objects are stored in memory as templates, which are consulted when identifying current retinal images. In contrast, parts-based theories state that the brain uses the component geometric elements (termed geons) comprising the object, as well as the spatial relationships between these geons, for purposes of identification. Where in the brain these identifications occur also is a matter of debate. Modular theories state that specialized areas, or modules, of the brain code categories of objects whereas distributed representation theories posit that it is the pattern of brain activity in multiple brain regions that identifies an object.
(Scenario II) Most of the time we can easily identify objects regardless of their orientation or rotation in space. This fact MOST challenges the validity of _____ theories.

A)image-based
B)parts-based
C)modular
D)distributed representation

Answer 2

image-based

Question 3

Scenario II
While we effortlessly identify most objects by sight, the mechanisms underlying how and where we make these identifications are matters of theoretical and empirical debate. According to image-based theories, previously identified objects are stored in memory as templates, which are consulted when identifying current retinal images. In contrast, parts-based theories state that the brain uses the component geometric elements (termed geons) comprising the object, as well as the spatial relationships between these geons, for purposes of identification. Where in the brain these identifications occur also is a matter of debate. Modular theories state that specialized areas, or modules, of the brain code categories of objects whereas distributed representation theories posit that it is the pattern of brain activity in multiple brain regions that identifies an object.
(Scenario II) An individual suffers a stroke and loses the ability to identify her friends by their faces. The stroke did not impair her ability to identify other common objects. This occurrence would be MOST supportive of the _____ theory of object recognition.

A)image-based
B)parts-based
C)modular
D)distributed representation

Answer 3

modular

Question 4

Scenario I
A psychologist interested in studying visual perception manipulates the brightness of a light in the imperceptible to very dim range. Each level of brightness (measured in lumens) is studied for 10 trials, and on each trial participants are asked if they can detect the light. Figure 4.1 shows hypothetical data from one participant.
Figure 4.1
(Scenario I) Suppose two people differ in terms of their absolute threshold for light but this difference is extremely small (1 lumen). Because the projection device can only manipulate lumens in steps of 5, the researcher concludes that the absolute threshold for the two participants is equivalent. In this case, the measure lacks:

A)reliability.
B)statistical significance.
C)power.
D)validity.

Question 5

Scenario II
While we effortlessly identify most objects by sight, the mechanisms underlying how and where we make these identifications are matters of theoretical and empirical debate. According to image-based theories, previously identified objects are stored in memory as templates, which are consulted when identifying current retinal images. In contrast, parts-based theories state that the brain uses the component geometric elements (termed geons) comprising the object, as well as the spatial relationships between these geons, for purposes of identification. Where in the brain these identifications occur also is a matter of debate. Modular theories state that specialized areas, or modules, of the brain code categories of objects whereas distributed representation theories posit that it is the pattern of brain activity in multiple brain regions that identifies an object.
(Scenario II) Image-based theories are to parts-based theories as:

A)perception is to sensation.
B)comparison is to deconstruction.
C)structure is to function.
D)global is to local.

Question 6

Scenario I
A psychologist interested in studying visual perception manipulates the brightness of a light in the imperceptible to very dim range. Each level of brightness (measured in lumens) is studied for 10 trials, and on each trial participants are asked if they can detect the light. Figure 4.1 shows hypothetical data from one participant.
Figure 4.1
(Scenario I) In Figure 4.1, the absolute threshold of light perception is indicated by the letter:

A)a.
B)b.
C)c.
D)d.

Question 7

Scenario II
While we effortlessly identify most objects by sight, the mechanisms underlying how and where we make these identifications are matters of theoretical and empirical debate. According to image-based theories, previously identified objects are stored in memory as templates, which are consulted when identifying current retinal images. In contrast, parts-based theories state that the brain uses the component geometric elements (termed geons) comprising the object, as well as the spatial relationships between these geons, for purposes of identification. Where in the brain these identifications occur also is a matter of debate. Modular theories state that specialized areas, or modules, of the brain code categories of objects whereas distributed representation theories posit that it is the pattern of brain activity in multiple brain regions that identifies an object.
(Scenario II) A geon is to an object as a:

A)letters are to words.
B)building is to bricks.
C)letter is to its numerical position within the alphabet.
D)sentence is to the words comprising it.

Question 8

Scenario I
A psychologist interested in studying visual perception manipulates the brightness of a light in the imperceptible to very dim range. Each level of brightness (measured in lumens) is studied for 10 trials, and on each trial participants are asked if they can detect the light. Figure 4.1 shows hypothetical data from one participant.
Figure 4.1
(Scenario I) Suppose that a second person is tested and is found to have a lower absolute threshold relative to the first. For this second person, the curve will shift _____ relative to the function shown in the figure.

A)leftward
B)rightward
C)upward
D)rightward and upward

Question 9

Scenario I
A psychologist interested in studying visual perception manipulates the brightness of a light in the imperceptible to very dim range. Each level of brightness (measured in lumens) is studied for 10 trials, and on each trial participants are asked if they can detect the light. Figure 4.1 shows hypothetical data from one participant.
Figure 4.1
(Scenario I) This is best described as research in the area of:

A)psychometrics.
B)perceptual constancy.
C)signal detection.
D)psychophysics.

Question 10

Scenario II
While we effortlessly identify most objects by sight, the mechanisms underlying how and where we make these identifications are matters of theoretical and empirical debate. According to image-based theories, previously identified objects are stored in memory as templates, which are consulted when identifying current retinal images. In contrast, parts-based theories state that the brain uses the component geometric elements (termed geons) comprising the object, as well as the spatial relationships between these geons, for purposes of identification. Where in the brain these identifications occur also is a matter of debate. Modular theories state that specialized areas, or modules, of the brain code categories of objects whereas distributed representation theories posit that it is the pattern of brain activity in multiple brain regions that identifies an object.
(Scenario II) Most of the time we can easily identify the faces of our friends, even if they have many facial characteristics in common. This fact MOST challenges the validity of _____ theories.

A)image-based
B)parts-based
C)modular
D)distributed representation

Question 11

Scenario I
A psychologist interested in studying visual perception manipulates the brightness of a light in the imperceptible to very dim range. Each level of brightness (measured in lumens) is studied for 10 trials, and on each trial participants are asked if they can detect the light. Figure 4.1 shows hypothetical data from one participant.
Figure 4.1
(Scenario I) To minimize the effects of expectancies and sensory adaptation, the researcher should:

A)manipulate brightness in descending rather than ascending order.
B)manipulate brightness randomly on a trial-by-trial basis.
C)deceive participants as to the true purpose of the study.
D)increase the number of trials that each level of brightness is experienced.

Question 12

Scenario II
While we effortlessly identify most objects by sight, the mechanisms underlying how and where we make these identifications are matters of theoretical and empirical debate. According to image-based theories, previously identified objects are stored in memory as templates, which are consulted when identifying current retinal images. In contrast, parts-based theories state that the brain uses the component geometric elements (termed geons) comprising the object, as well as the spatial relationships between these geons, for purposes of identification. Where in the brain these identifications occur also is a matter of debate. Modular theories state that specialized areas, or modules, of the brain code categories of objects whereas distributed representation theories posit that it is the pattern of brain activity in multiple brain regions that identifies an object.
(Scenario II) Functional magnetic resonance imagining has revealed that recognizing objects from different classes (e.g., means of transportation versus animals) activates a different pattern of brain activity across multiple areas of the cortex. This fact MOST supports _____ theories of object identification.

A)image-based
B)parts-based
C)modular
D)distributed representation