Deck 4: Perceiving and Believing

Question 1

The definition of perceiving is

A)seeing others as you wish to see them.
B)actively selecting, organizing, and interpreting sensations.
C)having a sense about the world around you.
D)thinking critically about situations in your life.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

We are all in perceiving our world.

A)emotionally blind
B)helplessly inaccurate
C)active participants
D)selectively blind

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Even though in theory facts and inferences can be distinguished, in practice it is almost impossible to communicate with others by sticking only to factual observations.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Interpretations, evaluations, conclusions, or predictions about the world that we endorse as true are called .

A)perceptions
B)interpretations
C)observations
D)beliefs

Question 5

Factual reports represent an interpretation, evaluation, conclusion, or prediction about the nature of the world.

Question 6

Thinking critically about your perceptions results in the formulation of your and ultimately in the construction of your knowledge about the world.

A)beliefs
B)outlook
C)intelligence
D)cognitive abilities

Question 7

In the text, the author uses the example of contact lenses to describe how different people have differing interpretations of external stimuli.The contact lenses act as a

A)metaphor for reality.
B)stimulus for reality.
C)filter to select and shape reality.
D)barrier to reality.

Question 8

At the most basic level, the concept of perceiving refers to the sensations provided by the senses.

A)selecting, using, and retaining
B)selecting, organizing, and interpreting
C)sensing, organizing, and storing
D)sensing, feeling, interpreting

Question 9

Your total collection of beliefs constitutes your _, the guiding beacon you use to chart the course of your personal existence.

A)philosophy of life
B)initial perceptions
C)judgment
D)stereotypic perceptions

Question 10

Keeping in mind that your perceptions color your interpretations of everything that occurs around you, it is important to recognize the influence of your perceptions.For that reason, you must clarify and validate your perceptions by doing what?

A)Testing your beliefs
B)Finding common ground with others by associating with people who share your ideas
C)Telling people your ideas and getting their input
D)Examining and evaluating your perceptions

Question 11

Your perceptions of the world are dramatically influenced by your .

A)past experiences
B)mental state
C)current surroundings
D)significant others

Question 12

You are continually trying to interpret what you perceive, whether it's a design, someone's behavior, or an object in your hand.What are the two levels of perceiving?

A)internal and external
B)physical and cognitive
C)personal and inferential
D)basic and complex

Question 13

What do we call the process by which we describe the world in ways that are based on factual information yet go beyond this information to make statements about what is currently known?

A)judging
B)inferring
C)perceiving
D)evaluating

Question 14

Because play such an important role in our exchange and accumulation of information about the world, it is important that they be as accurate and complete as possible.

A)factual reports
B)news media
C)cognitive abilities
D)perceptions and beliefs

Question 15

What do we call the process by which we describe the world in ways that express an evaluation based on certain criteria?

A)theorizing
B)perceiving
C)inferring
D)judging

Question 16

In addition to factual reports, your descriptions of the world may contain inferences based on factual information.Facts and inferences are designed to help you figure out what is actually happening; the purpose of is to express your evaluation about what is happening.

A)judgments
B)perceptions
C)knowing
D)predictions

Question 17

Your perceptions of the world are not dramatically influenced by your past experiences.

Question 18

It is tempting to think that you are like a human camera taking in everything around you.However, you are, in fact, an active participant who is always trying to understand the sensations you are encountering.

Question 19

At almost every waking moment of your life, your senses are being bombarded by a tremendous number of stimuli: images to see, noises to hear, odors to smell, textures to feel, and flavors to taste.

Question 20

When we go shopping, we focus on the items we are looking for.Walking down the street, we tend to notice certain kinds of people or events while completely ignoring others.We call this automatic process perception.Which of the following is not an element of perception?

A)selecting
B)predicting
C)organizing
D)interpreting

Question 21

The credibility of a judgment depends on the criteria used to make the judgment and the evidence or reasons that support the criteria.

Question 22

According to the author of the textbook, the relationship between the activities of believing and perceiving is complex and interactive.On the one hand, your perceptions form the foundation for many of your beliefs.On the other hand, your beliefs about the world shape and influence your perceptions.Explain how believing and perceiving impact one another.

Question 23

The credibility of a depends on the criteria used to make the
and the evidence or reasons that support these criteria.(Hint: the same term goes in both blanks.)

Question 24

The author offers us five accounts of the assassination of Malcolm X.Notice that each account is considerably different.How do you account for the differences between the reports? What details of the events has each writer selected to focus on?

Question 25

Having an accurate picture of the world depends on your ability to evaluate how certain your beliefs are.Therefore, it is crucial that you distinguish inferences from facts and then endeavor to act only on those bits of information that you know are facts.

Question 26

At the most basic level, the concept of refers to the selection, organization, and interpretation of sensations.

Question 27

Thinking critically about results in the formation of your beliefs.

Question 28

Describing the world in ways that can be verified through investigation is referred to as
.

Question 29

Interpretations, evaluations, conclusions or predictions about the world that we endorse as true are referred to as beliefs.

Question 30

In a special area of interest or expertise, the of a knowledgeable person differ substantially from those of a person who lacks knowledge in that area.

Question 31

are the main tools you use to make sense of the world and guide your actions.

Question 32

Your total collection of beliefs constitutes your philosophy of life which, once established, can never be altered and thus becomes your life focus.

Question 33

Predictions and expectations are also because you attempt to determine what is currently unknown from what is already known.

Question 34

"The actual building of roads devoted to motor cars is not for the near future in spite of many rumors to that effect" is an example of .

Question 35

Dublin University student Shane Fitzgerald said if he had not come forward about his phony quote attributed to French composer Maurice Jarre, "it would have become another example where, once anything is printed enough times in the media without challenge, it becomes fact." Using the information on perceptions and inferences from this chapter, explain why this happens.

Question 36

Describing the world in ways that are based on factual information yet going beyond this information to make statements about what is not currently known is referred to as judging.

Question 37

Distinguishing inferences from factual beliefs and then evaluating the certainty of those inferences is called .

Question 38

The author of the textbook discusses how perceptions become beliefs through a process known as cognition.In your own words, explain how cognition works and its implications on an individual's mental and emotional states.

Question 39

"The Great Wall of China is more than 1,500 miles long" is an example of a
.

Question 40

Summarize how the media coverage of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting affected people's perceptions of that tragedy.What different interpretations were at work in shaping the ways people saw the event?