Question 1

If you expect to hear a sound,you may have a better ability to hear it.This would be an example of how ____ can change.

Accepted Answer

This phenomenon is related to the concept of the absolute threshold, which refers to the minimum intensity needed for a stimulus to be detected. Expecting to hear a sound can lower the threshold, making it more likely for the person to perceive the stimulus. Weber's law refers to the difference threshold, or the smallest detectable difference between two stimuli, and the just noticeable difference (JND) is a related concept that refers to the smallest difference between two stimuli that can be detected 50% of the time. The law of prägnanz, also known as the principle of simplicity or gestalt psychology, refers to the tendency of the brain to perceive patterns in the simplest and most organized way possible.

Question 2

A psychophysicist would be most interested in which research question?

Accepted Answer

Psychophysics is the study of relationships between physical stimuli and the perceptions and sensations they evoke. Therefore, a psychophysicist would be most interested in the research question of what makes the different notes of a musical piece sound different, as it relates to the perception of sound.

Question 3

Which law explains how much louder a tone would need to get before you would notice a difference?

Accepted Answer

Weber's law states that the just noticeable difference (JND) of a stimulus is a constant proportion of the initial stimulus magnitude. It applies to a range of sensory experiences, including differences in tone loudness. This means that the more intense a tone is, the greater the change in loudness needed for a person to notice a difference.

Question 4

The Ganzfeld procedure is used to determine ____.

Accepted Answer

The Ganzfeld procedure is used to determine extrasensory perception (ESP). It involves creating a uniform sensory field, such as by placing halved ping pong balls over the eyes and playing white noise in headphones, and then testing for any psychic or clairvoyant abilities.

Question 5

Qamar is participating in a study on ESP in which he is supposed to telepathically receive one of two images that another participant views on a computer screen.If he performs like most other research participants in other studies,about how well will he do at receiving these images?

Accepted Answer

Based on previous studies and statistical probability, the chance of guessing correctly between two images is 50/50 or approximately 50% of the time. Therefore, Qamar is expected to guess correctly approximately 50% of the time.

Question 6

The absolute threshold is defined as the minimum ____.

Accepted Answer

The absolute threshold is defined as the minimum intensity of a stimulus that can be detected 50% of the time. This means that at this level, a person can detect the stimulus half of the time and fail to detect it the other half.

Question 7

Psychophysicists study ____.

Accepted Answer

Psychophysicists study the relationship between physical stimuli and the subjective experiences or sensations they produce in the mind. They are interested in understanding how the mind interprets sensory stimuli and how different types of stimuli can affect perception.

Question 8

Most research on extrasensory perception has shown that it is ____.

Accepted Answer

The majority of scientific research on extrasensory perception (ESP) has not found evidence to support its existence. Therefore, option B is the best choice as it accurately reflects the current scientific consensus.

Question 9

Researchers at the Smell Good Company want to make their home air freshener smell even better to customers.What principle will the researchers use to determine the amount of additional fragrance needed for customers to just notice the improvement?

Accepted Answer

Weber's law states that for a change in a stimulus to be noticeable, it must be a constant proportion of the original stimulus. Therefore, researchers at the Smell Good Company could use this principle to determine the amount of additional fragrance needed for customers to just notice the improvement in the air freshener's scent.

Question 10

Which statement about absolute thresholds is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

Absolute thresholds can vary depending on factors such as the individual's sensory acuity and the context in which the stimulus is presented. Therefore, option A is the only true statement. Option B is incorrect because the minimum change in stimulus intensity that can be detected is known as the difference threshold. Option C is incorrect because absolute thresholds necessarily involve both sensation and perception. Option D is incorrect because absolute thresholds can be measured for all senses, not just vision or hearing.

Question 11

Dr.Lau is doing an experiment in which he wishes to determine the lowest concentration of salt that customers will be able to taste in a new soup product.In this experiment,Dr.Lau is interested in measuring the customer's ____.

Accepted Answer

The absolute threshold for taste refers to the minimum concentration of salt that a person can detect through taste. It is the lowest level of stimulation that can be detected by the sensory system. In this experiment, Dr. Lau is interested in determining this threshold, so the correct answer is C). The other options, such as top-down perceptual processing and just noticeable difference for salt, are not relevant to this particular experiment.

Question 12

In 2011,which psychologist reported finding experimental evidence for the existence of ESP,although the work has been characterized as methodologically flawed and incorrectly analyzed?

Accepted Answer

The psychologist who reported finding experimental evidence for the existence of ESP in 2011 is Daryl Bem. However, his work has been criticized for methodological flaws and incorrect analysis.

Question 13

Weber's law is most closely associated with ____.

Accepted Answer

Weber's law states that the just noticeable difference between two stimuli is proportional to the magnitude of the stimuli. Therefore, Weber's law is most closely associated with the concept of the just noticeable difference (JND).

Question 14

According to Weber's law,we should be best able to notice an additional teaspoon of salt in our soup when the soup ____.

Accepted Answer

The answer of  According to Weber's law,we should be best...

Question 15

If you are exposed to a television advertisement containing subliminal messages,the probability is very high that ____.

Accepted Answer

The effectiveness of subliminal messages in advertising is highly debated among researchers. Some studies have shown that they may have a slight effect on behavior, but the majority of research suggests that subliminal messages are not effective in promoting persuasion or influencing consumer behavior. Therefore, the probability of being more persuaded or strongly directed to purchase a product due to subliminal messages is low.

Question 16

The absolute threshold tends to ____.

Accepted Answer

The absolute threshold, which is the minimum stimulus intensity required to detect a stimulus, varies from person to person due to differences in sensory acuity, experiences, and physiological conditions.

Question 17

Which term is more directly associated with perception than sensation?

Accepted Answer

Sensation refers to the initial process of detecting and receiving information from the environment through our senses. Perception involves the interpretation and processing of that information, which is why interpretation is more directly associated with perception than sensation. Visual, gustatory, and auditory are all sensory modalities that can be associated with sensation or perception depending on the context.

Question 18

The Zena perfume company wants to improve their top-selling fragrance,Rosy,by making it smell even rosier.They hire Dr.Franks to determine the minimum amount of rose oil that they will have to add to the formula to ensure that customers will be able to tell a difference in the improved fragrance.  The Zena company wants Dr.Franks to find the customer's ____.​

Accepted Answer

The question is asking about the minimum amount of rose oil that needs to be added for customers to perceive a difference, which is a question about the just noticeable difference (JND). The JND is the smallest difference between two stimuli that can be detected by a person, and in this case, it refers to the minimum amount of rose oil that needs to be added for customers to perceive a difference in the fragrance. Therefore, the correct choice is C, just noticeable difference.

Question 19

In the 1950s,James Vicary reported that he had been able to manipulate sales for popcorn and Coca-Cola by flashing subliminal messages during the showing of a movie in a public theatre.How has his work stood the test of the time?

Accepted Answer

James Vicary's claim of manipulating sales through subliminal messages was found to be fabricated and could not be replicated by other researchers. His work has not stood the test of time as it was not based on valid scientific evidence.

Question 20

Extrasensory perception is also known as ____.

Accepted Answer

Extrasensory perception is commonly referred to as psi. Option B, JND, stands for Just Noticeable Difference and refers to the smallest detectable difference between two stimuli. Option C, Absolute Threshold, is the minimum amount of stimulus needed to detect a sensory input, and Option D, Subliminal Sensations, refers to stimuli that are below the threshold of conscious awareness.

Quiz 3: Sensation and Perception