Question 1

Scientists failed to find the same results when they attempted to repeat Bem's (2011) experiments on the ability to predict the future. In other words, Bem's work failed to find support through:

Accepted Answer

The question specifically mentions that scientists attempted to repeat Bem's experiments, indicating that they were conducting replications. The fact that they were unable to obtain the same results suggests that Bem's findings were not able to be replicated, leading to doubts regarding the validity of his work.

Question 2

Taxis on the street produce a small retinal image for an observer standing near the window of an office on a skyscraper's 90ᵗʰ floor. The observer does not perceive the taxis as miniature, however. This example illustrates size:

Accepted Answer

This example illustrates size constancy, which is the ability of the visual system to perceive objects as the same size regardless of their distance from the observer. Despite the small retinal image produced by the taxis, the observer perceives them as being their normal size because the visual system takes into account the distance between the observer and the taxis.

Question 3

Gibson and Walk (1960) found that depth perception:

Accepted Answer

Gibson and Walk (1960) conducted the "visual cliff" experiment, which demonstrated that depth perception is innate. Even very young animals and human infants, with minimal experience, could perceive depth and were hesitant to cross the apparent drop.

Question 4

The difference between the image of a scene received by the right eye and a scene received by the left eye can serve as a depth cue called retinal:

Accepted Answer

Retinal disparity refers to the difference in images received by each eye, which helps the brain perceive depth and create a 3D image of the world. Therefore, the correct choice is C) disparity.

Question 5

Examining a drawing, an African tribesperson interprets one elephant as much smaller than a second. By contrast, an American viewing the same drawing sees the first elephant as more distant than the second, but not smaller. This example illustrates cultural differences in the use of the ______ depth cue of _____.

Accepted Answer

The question is asking about the use of a depth cue, which is a monocular cue (i.e. a cue that can be perceived with only one eye). The two options that mention monocular cues are A and B, but interposition is not relevant to the example given. The cultural differences described involve the interpretation of relative size, which is a monocular cue. Therefore, the correct answer is A) monocular; relative size.

Question 6

When one object is closer than a second, it partially blocks one's view of the second object, which then appears more distant than the first. This is a monocular depth cue called:

Accepted Answer

Interposition, also known as occlusion, occurs when an object is partially blocked by another object. This can create a sense of depth and distance, as the blocked object is perceived as being farther away than the blocking object. The other options, relative size, linear perspective, and retinal disparity, are all other monocular depth cues but do not specifically involve blocking of one object by another.

Question 7

Brenda is standing on the beach; the sea is choppy. She observes that the crests of distant waves appear not only smaller, but also closer together than do the crests of waves nearer the beach. This example illustrates a depth cue known as:

Accepted Answer

Linear perspective is a depth cue that refers to the perception of depth and distance based on the convergence of parallel lines, as in the case of railroad tracks seemingly converging in the distance. In the case of the choppy sea observed by Brenda, linear perspective would explain why the crests of distant waves appear closer together, as they converge towards a common point on the horizon. Texture gradient refers to the change in texture or detail of an object as it recedes into the distance, interposition refers to the overlap of objects to create depth, and retinal disparity refers to the slight differences in the retinal images of an object seen by each eye, which allows for depth perception. None of these depth cues appear to be relevant to this particular example.

Question 8

The door swings open and then closes again as Zannah's roommate enters the apartment. Zannah continues to see the door as rectangular even though the shape of its image on her retina progresses from a wide rectangle, through a series of parallelograms, to a very narrow rectangle, and then back again. Zannah's perception of the door as an unchanging rectangle exemplifies shape:

Accepted Answer

Shape constancy refers to the ability to perceive an object as having a constant shape, despite changes in the shape of the image on the retina due to movement, angle of view, or other factors. In this case, Zannah's perception of the door as a rectangle remains constant even though the image on her retina changes shape. Therefore, the correct answer is shape constancy, which is option B.

Question 9

Which depth cue is correctly matched with its description?

Accepted Answer

Linear perspective is the depth cue where parallel lines appear to converge as they get further away from the viewer. This helps in perceiving depth and distance.

Question 10

Which of the following terms is the BEST synonym for "disparity"?

Accepted Answer

Disparity refers to a difference or inequality between things. Choice D, "difference," is the best synonym for this term.

Question 11

From the window of an office on a skyscraper's 90ᵗʰ floor, taxis on the street look tiny. Of course, people know they are not toy cars; the taxis are just really far below them. This example illustrates the _____ depth cue of ______.

Accepted Answer

The example involves the use of only one eye (monocular) to perceive depth through the relative size cue, as the taxis appear smaller due to the increased distance from the observer. The example does not involve the use of both eyes (binocular), so options C and D can be eliminated. Texture gradient is not mentioned in the scenario, so option B can also be eliminated.

Question 12

According to the text, people sometimes believe they have found evidence for ESP when they attribute meaning to coincidental links between variables or events. Such an attribution is called:

Accepted Answer

Illusory correlation refers to perceiving a relationship between variables or events when no such relationship exists. In the context of ESP, this means that people may attribute meaning to coincidences that are not actually linked, leading them to believe in psychic abilities. Sensory adaptation refers to the process by which sensory receptors become less sensitive to constant or repetitive stimuli, perceptual constancy refers to the ability to perceive an object as unchanged even when its sensory information changes, and signal detection refers to the ability to identify a stimulus among a background of competing stimuli. None of these concepts are directly related to the attribution of meaning to coincidental links between variables or events.

Question 13

Based on the textbook's discussion, cross-cultural differences may be found in:

Accepted Answer

The textbook discusses how cultural background can affect susceptibility to certain visual illusions and the extent of perceptual constancies, making both options A and B correct. Therefore, choice letter C is the best answer. Option D is incorrect as the textbook addresses differences in both visual illusions and perceptual constancies.

Question 14

In a beginning drawing class, Baxter's instructor suggests that an illusion of depth may be created in a two-dimensional picture by including parallel lines that converge at a vanishing point. Baxter's instructor is making reference to a monocular depth cue known as:

Accepted Answer

Baxter's instructor is describing linear perspective, a monocular depth cue where parallel lines appear to converge at a vanishing point in the distance, giving the illusion of depth in a two-dimensional image. Texture gradient, relative size, and interposition are also monocular depth cues but are not being referenced in this scenario.

Question 15

There is no scientific support for extrasensory perception. With respect to the distinction between sensation and perception, this means that:

Accepted Answer

Sensation is the process of sensing our environment through touch, taste, sight, sound, and smell. This information is sent to our brains in raw form where perception comes into play. Perception is the way we interpret these sensations and therefore make sense of everything around us. The statement that there is no scientific support for extrasensory perception implies that perception cannot occur without the initial sensory input, meaning sensation is necessary for perception to occur.

Question 16

In its discussion of perceptual set, the textbook suggests that people see what they expect to see. Perceptual set, therefore, is an example of a _____ influence on perception.

Accepted Answer

Perceptual set is influenced by both knowledge and expectations, which are both top-down influences on perception. Therefore, the best answer is D, knowledge-based or top-down.

Question 17

Monocular is to binocular as _____ is to _____.

Accepted Answer

Monocular cues (requiring one eye) include interposition, while binocular cues (requiring both eyes) include retinal disparity.

Question 18

The textbook notes that children who grow up without certain types of stimuli may show size constancy deficits. This finding:

Accepted Answer

This finding highlights the importance of knowledge-based processes in perception, as children who grow up without certain types of stimuli may not have developed the necessary knowledge to perceive size constancy. This suggests that perception is not purely based on bottom-up processes, but also involves top-down processes influenced by prior knowledge and experience.

Question 19

Miriam steps out of a store and glances at her car parked across the street. A bus passes by, momentarily blocking her view of her car. Miriam sees the bus as closer than her car due to a depth cue called:

Accepted Answer

Interposition, also known as occlusion, is a depth cue where if one object partially blocks our view of another, we perceive it as closer. Since the bus blocks Miriam's view of her car, she perceives the bus as closer.

Question 20

With respect to vision, what exactly is constant in perceptual constancy?

Accepted Answer

Perceptual constancy refers to the fact that our perception of the environment around us remains relatively constant despite changes in the retinal image (the image formed on our retina as a result of light entering the eye). This means that even when the physical environment or the retinal image changes, we are still able to perceive objects as having the same size, shape, color, and brightness. Therefore, our perception of the environment is what remains constant in perceptual constancy.

Quiz 3: Biology and Behavior