Question 1

According to the textbook, college students' GPAs are _____ correlated with the time they spend using social media.

Accepted Answer

The textbook states that the correlation between college students' GPAs and social media usage time is negative, meaning that as social media usage time increases, GPAs decrease.

Question 2

When Sanjay recognizes line segments and areas of light and dark on his friend's face at an airport gate, he is demonstrating:

Accepted Answer

Sanjay is not just receiving sensory input (sensation) but is processing and interpreting it to recognize his friend's face, which is an example of perception. The recognition of line segments and areas of light and dark suggests that he has already achieved perceptual constancy, which is the ability to recognize an object despite changes in lighting or angles. There is no evidence of adaptation, which refers to the decrease in sensitivity to a constant stimulus over time.

Question 3

It's so noisy! How can you stand it?" remarks Caitlyn as highway traffic screams past her friend Dave's ground-floor apartment. "I don't even notice it anymore," Dave replies. This exchange BEST exemplifies the psychophysical concept of:

Accepted Answer

Dave's response of not even noticing the noise anymore illustrates the concept of adaptation. This is when our senses adjust to a constant or repeated stimulus and we become less aware of it over time.

Question 4

The process of converting sensory data into electrochemical signals is called:

Accepted Answer

The process of converting sensory data into electrochemical signals is called transduction. Perception (A) refers to the interpretation of sensory information, while adaptation (C) is the process by which the body adjusts to a continuously present stimulus. Sensation (B) is the initial detection of a stimulus by sensory receptors.

Question 5

In a psychophysical experiment, observers first view an adapting stimulus in which small dots on a computer screen all move steadily toward the right. They then view a test stimulus in which they have to determine whether a patch of dots is stationary or moving. Based on the textbook's discussion, one might predict that the adapting stimulus would:

Accepted Answer

The adapting stimulus in which all dots move steadily toward the right would lead to a neural adaptation specifically for rightward motion. This would lead to an increase in the absolute threshold for motion detection, meaning that a stronger stimulus would be needed to detect any motion at all, including rightward motion. This effect is called the motion aftereffect.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

The example illustrates the concept of a difference threshold, or just noticeable difference, which is the minimum difference in stimulation that a person can detect 50% of the time. In this case, it's the smallest increase in salt content that consumers can notice.

Question 7

Which correlation coefficient would a researcher MOST likely find between college students' GPAs and the number of hours spent using social media each week?

Accepted Answer

Based on past research, it is more likely that there would be a small negative correlation between GPAs and social media usage, rather than a large negative or positive correlation. Therefore, option B (-.30) is the most likely correlation coefficient. Option C (.05) suggests a positive correlation, which is unlikely given the inverse relationship that has been found in previous studies. Option A (-.85) suggests an extremely strong negative correlation, which is also unlikely given the small-to-moderate correlation typically observed in this relationship. Finally, option D (.35) suggests a positive correlation, which, like option C, is unlikely given past research.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

The ability to detect a single drop of perfume diffused in an area the size of a one-bedroom apartment refers to the absolute threshold, which is the minimum stimulus energy needed to detect a particular stimulus 50% of the time.

Question 9

Transduction refers to:

Accepted Answer

Transduction is the process by which sensory information is converted into electrochemical signals that can be processed by the nervous system.

Question 10

The process by which receptor cells detect stimuli is called:

Accepted Answer

Sensation is the process by which sensory receptors detect environmental stimuli, such as light, sound, or temperature.

Question 11

Data-based processing is to knowledge-based processing as _____ is to _____.

Accepted Answer

Data-based processing refers to bottom-up processing, where perception starts with the input of sensory data. Knowledge-based processing refers to top-down processing, where perception is influenced by prior knowledge and expectations.

Question 12

The stimulus intensity that is detected half the time on average is called the _____ threshold.

Accepted Answer

The absolute threshold refers to the minimum intensity of a stimulus that is detected half the time on average. It is a basic concept in sensory psychology, indicating the point at which a stimulus becomes perceivable to an organism.

Question 13

Which statement MOST accurately expresses the relationship between knowledge-based and data-based processing?

Accepted Answer

Knowledge-based and data-based processes occur simultaneously during the perception of many, if not all, stimuli. Both types of processing are necessary for accurate perception and interpretation of sensory information in the environment. Data-based processing involves analyzing raw sensory information and extracting basic features such as color, texture, and shape. Knowledge-based processing involves integrating this sensory information with stored knowledge and expectations to form a coherent perceptual experience. In many cases, these two types of processing work together seamlessly to create a perception that is both accurate and meaningful.

Question 14

Regarding sensation and perception, which statement is True?

Accepted Answer

Sensation refers to the process of detecting a physical stimulus, such as light or sound waves, by sensory organs and transmitting that information to the brain. Perception, on the other hand, is the process of interpreting the sensory information to form a meaningful understanding of the stimulus. Thus, sensation involves the activation of sense receptors while perception involves interpretation.

Question 15

Anna is reading her psychology text. The activation of receptors in her retina is called _____. Her interpretation of the stimuli as particular words is called _____.

Accepted Answer

The activation of receptors in the retina is called sensation, and the interpretation of that sensory information as words is called perception. Therefore, the correct answer is C: sensation; perception.

Question 16

The feeling of being threatened accompanying the sight of a weapon impairs an eyewitness's perception of the perpetrator's features. Which choice BEST evaluates this statement with respect to the distinction between knowledge-based processing and data-based processing?

Accepted Answer

The statement about the impairment of perception due to feeling threatened and the presence of a weapon is an example of knowledge-based processing. This is because it is based on pre-existing knowledge, beliefs, and experiences, rather than solely on the available sensory data. The feeling of being threatened is a subjective interpretation of the situation, rather than an objective assessment based on the available sensory data. Therefore, this statement best exemplifies how pre-existing knowledge or beliefs may bias perception and influence interpretations of sensory data, which is the hallmark of knowledge-based processing.

Question 17

_____ is the first step in _____.

Accepted Answer

Transduction is the process by which sensory receptors convert stimuli into neural impulses to be sent to the brain. It is the first step in sensation, where we begin to process external stimuli.

Question 18

Which sentence expresses data-based processing?

Accepted Answer

Data-based processing involves individuals perceiving and interpreting information based on objective data rather than personal biases or expectations. In this case, option A suggests that individuals are perceiving what is in front of them, which is more aligned with objective data. The other options (B and C) suggest that individuals are perceiving based on personal biases and expectations, which is not data-based processing.

Question 19

In a typical psychophysical experiment, absolute threshold is a(n) _____ variable; in a graph, a measure of absolute threshold appears on the __-axis.

Accepted Answer

Absolute threshold is an independent variable which refers to the smallest intensity of a stimulus that can be detected by an observer. On a graph, the independent variable is usually plotted on the x-axis, whereas the dependent variable (which is influenced by the independent variable) is plotted on the y-axis. Therefore, a measure of absolute threshold appears on the x-axis.

Question 20

Detection is to interpretation as _____ is to _____.

Accepted Answer

Detection and sensation are both the initial stages of processing sensory information, while interpretation and perception involve assigning meaning and context to that information. Therefore, the relationship between detection and interpretation is best paralleled by the relationship between sensation and perception.

Quiz 3: Biology and Behavior

According to the textbook, college students' GPAs are _____ correlated with the time they spend using social media.

When Sanjay recognizes line segments and areas of light and dark on his friend's face at an airport gate, he is demonstrating:

It's so noisy! How can you stand it?" remarks Caitlyn as highway traffic screams past her friend Dave's ground-floor apartment. "I don't even notice it anymore," Dave replies. This exchange BEST exemplifies the psychophysical concept of:

The process of converting sensory data into electrochemical signals is called:

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

Which correlation coefficient would a researcher MOST likely find between college students' GPAs and the number of hours spent using social media each week?

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

Transduction refers to:

The process by which receptor cells detect stimuli is called:

Data-based processing is to knowledge-based processing as _ is to _.

The stimulus intensity that is detected half the time on average is called the _____ threshold.

Which statement MOST accurately expresses the relationship between knowledge-based and data-based processing?

Regarding sensation and perception, which statement is True?

Anna is reading her psychology text. The activation of receptors in her retina is called _. Her interpretation of the stimuli as particular words is called _.

The feeling of being threatened accompanying the sight of a weapon impairs an eyewitness's perception of the perpetrator's features. Which choice BEST evaluates this statement with respect to the distinction between knowledge-based processing and data-based processing?

_ is the first step in _.

Which sentence expresses data-based processing?

In a typical psychophysical experiment, absolute threshold is a(n) ___ variable; in a graph, a measure of absolute threshold appears on the -axis.

Detection is to interpretation as _ is to _.