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Type your answer to each question directly below the question. 1.Define the foll

ID: 3493451 • Letter: T

Question

Type your answer to each question directly below the question.

1.Define the following terms and give an example of each: transduction, threshold, sensory adaptation. (3 points)

2. Explain the difference between sensation and perception. (2 points)

3.Describe how Gestalt psychologists explain perception. Include an explanation of the laws of perceptual grouping. (5 points)

4.Read this example of differences in perception. Why do you think the two groups described interpret this picture differently? (5 points)

Explanation / Answer

1. Transduction refers to the process of changing the sensory input into neural impulse which can be interpreted by brain. Basically it is the conversion of one form of energy into another. For example, the sound waves are converted into neural signals to identify the words or letters by human beings.

Threshold is the smallest value of any stimulus that makes it detectable approximately 50% of the time. For example, in an experiment on sound detection, researchers may present a sound with varying levels of volume. The smallest level that a participant is able to hear is the threshold.

Sensory adaptation occurs when the sensory organs are constantly exposed to a particular stimulus of a longer period of time. The response is no longer immediately evoked as a result of this adaptation. Therefore, it is a change over time in the responsiveness of the sensory organs to a constant stimulus. For example, if one rests one's hand on a table, one immediately feels the table's surface on one's skin. If the hand is kept for a longer duration, the person may not notice it later on.

2. Sensation is the process of getting sensory input form the environment with the help of sensory organs- ears, eyes, nose, skin and tongue. The information is then sent to brain after getting transducted in the form of neural impulses. The information is then attended to, stored and interpreted to make a meaning out of the individual sensory information. This process of giving meaning to information from the environment is called as perception. Perception is required for survival and making a sense of the information received by sense organs. It is essential to maintaining the sanity of an individual.  

3. Gestalt psychologists always said that ‘The whole is more than the sum of its parts’. This means that perception is always holistic in nature, if certain parts of sensory information are missing, then also perception will occur. There are six principles given by Gestalt psychologists-

1.    Law of similarity

2.    Law of continuity

3.    Law of good figure

4.    Law of proximity

5.    Law of closure

6.    Law of connectedness.

Gestaltists said that these laws of grouping are necessary in sensation and perception. These laws tend to cater to the information, if it is missing. These help in organization of information and using this information for building perceptions.

4. Differences in perception among individuals are based on a number of factors-like, individual experiences, culture to which one belongs, need and motives, past experiences, self-concept, current psychological state, beliefs and values etc. The same experience will be construed differently by two different individuals. At the same time, the same experience will be construed in different manners by the same individual at two different occasions. There are widespread individual differences in perception. It has been proved by a number of researches in the area of sensation and perception. Looking at the water in the glass which is half filled sounds a clichéd example in this case. Yet it makes sense. If one’s desires are forcing him/her to see the glass as half full and it suits them at this point in time, they will do so. It is never necessary that the perception of two individuals will match. This is the reason for basic differences in human nature as well. My interpretations of a picture will be totally different form my friend’s perceptions.

Therefore, it may be said that there were group differences in the perception about the picture.