Office Hours:
MW 9 am
T 3 pm
R 2 pm
Others by appointment
Feb 15, 2011
Homework:
-
Part 1:
-
Part 2: Motion Questions: In groups of 3-4, Answer
one of the following questions.
-
Explain how Film Works to create the
illusion of motion
-
What does the motion aftereffect tell us about
seeing still?
-
The spiral illusion works on your face after
viewing a spiral. Why?
-
Explain the Phi Phenomenon and give one real
world example.
-
What do the Law of Common Fate, Structure from
Motion and Biological Motion illustrations all have in common?
-
Think of a real world example of the difference
in motion sensitivity and acuity in the periphery.
-
Find illustration on YouTube or other video clip
of one or more of these phenomena – but the video cannot be so
named
-
Email me idea by Friday at 3. Be ready to
present in Class Monday
Feb 8, 2011
Jan 31, 2011
-
First Part:
Data to collect:
Due to me by 8:00 am tomorrow
-
Simultaneous contrast experiment: do 5 times
report all values separately
-
A second simultaneous contrast experiment
-
Second Part:
Due to me Friday by 3:00 pm. Will Present Monday, In Groups of
3-4.
Find/create art, photograph, other media that illustrates:
-
Role of contrast/contour (edges) in creating the
perception of a form, or
-
The role of one or more Gestalt Law in creating
the perception of a form
-
Must Not be a standard illusion
Jan 25, 2011
-
First Part:
Do spatial summation experiment and send data to me by
Wednesday, Jan 26 at 8:00 am
-
Second Part: Do one of the following with two (or
three) others.
Email me suggested answer by Thursday at 4.
Present in Class Monday.
-
Explain why tail lights are red – how does that color
help the driver following see at night
-
Why are the blue headlights
that are one some cars a really bad idea
-
What is different about
looking at red LED clock lights at night and the blue LCD lights at
night – why?
-
Take a red object and a blue object outside – say to
point. View as dusk falls to twilight – what changes happen in them and
why?
-
Why can you write out words with sparklers at night?
-
Why
can’t you watch a regular television outside during the day?
-
What are
crucial factors in deciding the size of dots that make up computer
screens?
-
Is it possible to see wheels rotating backwards in the real
world?
-
What environmental conditions make it hard to see electronic displays in
cars and why?
Jan 10, 2011
I hope that all of you had a wonderful summer.
I am really looking forward to this class. I
hope that you have as much fun as I know I will.
Look here for future announcements about the course
General Description:
Welcome you to Sensation and Perception and thank you for
joining me on this journey into both the mystery and knowledge that we have of
an aspect of our mind that most of us take for granted: our senses. Broadly speaking, the study of sensation and perception is the study of how an
organism's brain knows what is going on in the world around it. To help you appreciate the questions
that scientists studying sensation and perception struggle with, think of the captain of a
ship far out to sea. What does that captain need to know to safely sail the ship? The captain must be able to detect
obstacles, other ships, and weather conditions such as storms that may
effect the operation and safety of the ship. To perform these functions, the captain has
radar, sonar and other sensor systems to gain information about the ocean environment. In
addition, the captain must know about the operating condition of the ship, such as fuel
level and temperature of the engine. Sensors have been placed in the ship to give the
captain the needed information. A limited analogy can be drawn between your brain or mind
and the
captain. In the same manner as the captain, your brain does not have direct
access to the information necessary to behave in an intelligent and effective manner.
Thus, our sensory systems such as vision and audition are like the radar and
sonar which provides necessary information to guide behavior. You also have sensory systems that
obtain information about the state of your body such as your position relative to the
ground.
This course is part of the Natural World LADR. Let
me quote from the Hanover College catalog for a description of the liberal arts:
The liberal arts are arts suited for free people. The purpose of a liberal
arts education is to enable such people to cultivate humanity, to realize their
full potential as human beings and as citizens. Accordingly, the liberal arts
are designed to equip individuals to develop and integrate every dimension of
their own humanity--physical, intellectual, artistic, ethical, and
spiritual--and to understand and respect the humanity of others. (p. 8)
This course fits this description in many
ways. I want to highlight only a few. First, to develop ourselves,
we must know ourselves. Our senses are among the most misunderstood
aspects of our human nature. Thus, in this course will be working against a
large body of misunderstanding. Second, issues
in this course are applicable to the way we interact with art and technology in
the world around us. As such, this course can help us integrate knowledge
from many areas into a more coherent view of the world and ourselves.
Objectives
Due to the fact that this course plays many different types of
roles in the college, I have grouped the objectives into different categories.
Depending upon the reason you are in this course, you may not see a need for all
of the objectives. However, the objectives all work together and the first two
sets of objectives actually are vehicles to support the higher level objectives
which are the real reason for taking any course.
Course Specific Objectives:
The specific objective of this course is to develop your understanding of how our sensory
systems operate to gain information about the world around us. One of the difficulties with teaching Sensation
and Perception is that we all intuitively know what we see, hear, etc. In
addition, we have an implicit trust that what our senses tell us about is physical
reality. This belief is held despite most people having extensive experience with
illusions which illustrate the indirect and interpretive nature of the
information our senses
provide. You will have to leave many of these intuitions behind, because there are
many surprises in how our sensory systems actually operate.
Role of Course in the Major:
In the psychology major, this course is one of the options for a basic or 200 level
experimental psychology course. Experimental psychology traditionally has
referred to those areas of psychology that have emphasized the laboratory and
experimental methods for its research. Thus, areas such as sensation and
perception, cognition, and learning have fallen under this general rubric.
Many fundamental findings that drive most of our speculation about the nature of
the human mind are based on findings in these areas.
As a result of this placement of sensation and perception in
the major, the course is designed to give you a fundamental introduction to
experimental methods and ideas using this topic. The other course at this
level of the major is PSY162 Neuropsychology. Together these courses are often grouped
under the rubric of biological psychology and, thus, present how biological
knowledge and approaches have been used to facilitate understanding in
psychology. So while there are many non-biological approaches to sensation
and perception and they will be covered, there is a need to make sure you
understand the basics of the nervous system and how this basic understanding
yields important insights for psychology.
This course also needs to provide a foundation of basic experimental methods
as used in the laboratory areas of psychology. In the advanced
experimental course in psychology you
will be expected to design your own experimental project in the area of that
course and to execute that project. So, the laboratory section is designed
to help you get experience with the various components of how experiments are
conducted in experimental psychology so that you will be prepared to conduct
your project in the advanced course.
Role of Course in the Natural World LADR: I will quote here
the general objectives for all Natural World courses. The objectives
this course will emphasize are in italics.
- Articulate a central assumption of science: the universe operates
according to universally consistent rules, and we can discover these rules
by logical thought subject to test through experiments and observations
- Recognize that there is no single scientific method, that the scientific
enterprise consists of multiple methods and tools of investigation for
evaluating ideas, and that all science relies upon the acquisition of
evidence obtained through experimentation and observation to test hypotheses
and theories rather than upon the acceptance of ideas based on authority
- Understand that scientific inquiry is not formulaic in practice and be
able to explain how science works as a blend of logic, imagination, and
serendipity to produce theories that have both explanatory and predictive
power subject to validation by experiments and observations
- Explain why no scientific knowledge is considered to be absolutely and
completely true, and be able to give examples of how science has
historically improved, discarded, and replaced theories by experiments and
observations
- Explain why many questions and assertions are outside the domain of
scientific inquiry and why a hypothesis must be falsifiable through
experiments or observations to be considered scientific
- Describe the organization of science into distinctive disciplines with
different subject matter and research agendas, and be able to compare and
contrast the questions and methods of at least two different scientific
disciplines through active study in those disciplines
- Discriminate between scientific and pseudoscientific explanations of
natural phenomena, read scientific works written for an informed public, and
know how to find additional information that may be needed to fully
understand the content of those works
- Identify potential sources of bias in science attributable to the
investigator (e.g., Cultural or ideological), the sample used, the method
employed, or the instrumentation used with the goal of achieving objective
results
- Demonstrate with examples that science is a distinguishing feature of
the contemporary world, and that the scientific enterprise is embedded in
and influenced by the political, social, economic, and cultural contexts of
the times
- Understand that it is the responsibility of scientists to communicate
their findings to the scientific community and, ideally, to the public, that
scientists have a generally accepted set of ethical principles for the
conduct of science, and that many scientists participate in public affairs
as both scientific experts and citizens
- Conduct a scientific investigation, including the formulation of
questions and hypotheses, the development of methods of investigation, the
collection and analysis of data, and the presentation of the work in written
and oral scientific style
Objectives Connected to the Liberal Arts:
This course connects to the liberal arts in several ways. Science is a traditional and fundamental area of study in the liberal arts.
Science is different from many of the other areas of knowledge by its apparent
ability to build a body of knowledge that is to some degree cumulative and gains
a very wide degree of acceptance by practitioners of that field. It is
these characteristics that has led to the claim, made by some, that scientific knowledge is
more objective that other disciplines. But, science is not a fixed set of
facts to be learned, but a constantly changing
and evolving body of knowledge like any other scholarly field you find taught at
Hanover College. To understand science, in fact to understand any
discipline taught here at Hanover, requires one to understand how the field
learns and expands its horizon and critiques its past knowledge. Thus,
this class will emphasize the data and reasoning that leads researchers in
sensation and perception to certain conclusions and in the class we will be
asked to critique these data and the consequent reasoning. In addition,
one feature of the liberal
arts is that it prepares people "to lead deliberate, examined lives." (Catalog,
p. 8)
However, one facet of our lives that often goes little examined is how it is
possible that we can sense and perceive the world around us and how these
mechanisms that make sensation and perception affect our lives. By making
you aware of these mechanisms a more aware life is possible.
Read material and use media before coming to class. In
class, we will not simply present the material from the text but examine the material.
Class is for working on understanding, applications, covering of new material. Thus, familiarity with the
material prior to class is vital.
Laboratory:
The labs will be a chance to delve into some of the methods of the field.
Sensation and perception has developed a set of methods that are unique, even
within psychology. These methods have demonstrated their usefulness by
being the basis for many applications you run into on a daily basis.
Attend Class.
No Electronic Devices in Class: That means no phones, no handheld
devices, no laptops, etc. are to be used at all during class.
Turn assignments in on time. A letter grade
is lost for each late day and nothing will be accepted more than three days
late. Late is defined as one minute after the start time of class.
Participation in Class. As much of this
class will be an investigation into the meaning of the findings we discuss we
need all of you to ask questions, suggest ideas and critique other people's
ideas, including mine.
Seek help as you need it. Unfortunately my
training in psychology has not made me a mind reader. If you are
having troubles seek help from me and/or fellow students before the latter part
of the term. Seek the help as soon as the trouble begins. That
requires you thinking about the material and not just memorizing so that you
know if you really understand it.
Schedule:
apr 18-22 Final Examination (During Final Examination Period)
(SCC 148)
Laboratory Schedule:
In all types of inquiry, the knowledge gained is fundamentally dependent upon
the methods used to gain that knowledge. Therefore, the laboratory portion of
this course is set up to allow you to both experience some fundamental phenomena
and also to gain experience in how scientific questions are asked, answers
sought and discoveries communicated. Below is the schedule of laboratories that
are part of the course.
Assignments and Examinations:
Throughout the term there will be homework problems
assigned. They will be due the next class day. Problems will come
from the problems at the end of the text chapters and from others I will hand
out in class. Often they will require the use of the text media.
Problems of this sort will also be on the exams. Homework will be collected
and graded and will total to 50 points.
Examinations.
There will be three tests. The tests will be a combination
format of short answer items (such as identification) and longer essays. All examinations will be of a similar format.
Also, all examinations will be
cumulative because all later material builds on or relates to earlier material.
Since each successive examination covers more material, each successive
examination will be worth more according to the following table.
| Exam #1 |
100 points |
| Exam #2 |
150 points |
| Exam #3 |
200 points |
All exams will take place
in SCC 148 so that students will have individual access to computers.
Laboratory Assignments.
There will be several types of laboratory assignments including problems,
data analysis, graphing of results, and laboratory reports. These assignments
are listed above in the schedule of the laboratories and will be described
more in the labs where they are involved. However, the labs have a
cumulative set of purposes. These purposes are two-fold: to develop
skills at experimentation using the methods of sensation and perception and to
develop skills at critically analyzing the results of these experiments.
Thus, assignments such as graphing may seem purely as a skill, but even here,
how one graphs can greatly impact the way we interpret data. Thus,
understanding the impact of how a graph is constructed on interpretation can
assist in a critical understanding of data.
The different types of assignments will be worth different point values
depending on the size of the assignment. The points are listed in the
syllabus above in the laboratory schedule. Those
assignments marked with an asterisk (*) must be taken by the learning center
for review prior to being handed in. A letter grade will be taken off of
the assignment, if the paper is not reviewed by the learning center first.
It is possible on individual cases that the last lab report will also be
required to be taken by the writing center. This requirement will be
indicated on the return of the second lab.
The information for the format and
guidelines for the laboratory format are here.
Important Links
One of the Natural World LADR objectives is to show you different ways that
science is conducted (see objective 2 above). However, this class can only
show a small number of methods. So this assignment is to give you
experience with alternative methods, but from a psychological perspective.
You can earn this credit in three ways. First, you can participate in research
that is being conducted by faculty members or students of Hanover College. By
participating in these studies, you can gain valuable, first-hand knowledge
about how research is conducted. You will receive up to 50 points
for each 1/2 hour of participation. To receive credit, you MUST: a) obtain the
signature of the researcher, and b) answer some basic questions about the nature
and purpose of the study [see
linked
Research Participation Form]. Second, you can substitute two online studies
for any one Hanover study found on this site:
http://psych.hanover.edu/research/exponnet.html. While you cannot get
the researchers signature you must still fill out the questions [see
attached Online Participation Form]. Third, you can obtain the credit
by writing a 2-page summary and critique of an approved psychological journal
article. The guidelines are here.
You must complete two of these assignments by the end of the term. You may
earn extra credit by completing two more of these assignments for up to 25
points each. The Research Participation Forms and/or Article Critiques will be
collected the Friday before the beginning of dead week.
Relevant Links
Class Participation:
Participation in and regular attendance of classroom activities and discussions will be
worth 100 points. I expect each student to participate fully in discussions in class and
laboratories. These discussions are integral to getting the greatest possible benefit from
this class in addition to being a part of the development of your speaking
abilities.
Late Policy:
An assignment is late one minute after the beginning of class. One letter grade will be
subtracted for the first day late and another letter grade for each additional day, also
beginning at the time of class plus one minute. Nothing will be accepted
more than three days late.
Grading:
This class is graded on a point system which means that each assignment of the course is worth a
certain amount of points towards the final grade. When you get an assignment back you will
be given a grade with the points earned over the total number of points. Thus, you should
be able to follow your progress in the course on your own.
The table below summarize the grading for each class assignment.
| Activity |
Points |
| Test
1 |
100
|
| Test
2 |
150 |
| Test
3 |
200 |
|
Homework |
50 |
| Lab
Assignments |
|
|
Psychophysics 1 |
25 |
|
Psychophysics 2 |
25 |
|
Psychophysics 3 |
25 |
|
Acuity Lab |
50 |
|
Size Constancy Lab |
100 |
|
Critical Bands Lab |
100 |
|
Research Participation |
100 |
|
Participation |
100 |
|
Total |
1025 |
Grades will be converted to percentiles and letter grades will be assigned as
follows:
A |
93.4-100%
|
|
A- |
90-93.3% |
|
B+ |
86.7-89.9% |
B |
83.4-86.6%
|
|
B- |
80-83.3% |
|
C+ |
76.8-79.9% |
C |
73.4-76.7%
|
|
C- |
70-73.3% |
D |
60-69.9%
|
F |
< 60%
|
|
