University of South Florida Principles of Perception Reflection Paper

Now you want to apply principles of
perception in a more integrated way, applying them in a thematic way.
Apply 6 or more principles of perception, for about 6 to 8 written pages
(double-spaced this time). Illustrations can be added as additional
pages. Finish early because you must turn this in thru TurnItIn.

At least one principle must be from each
unit of the course (brain and vision, constructing objects of mind,
color my world). Look for interesting principles.

Each principle should be applied to a topic
or theme. “Topic or theme” is open-ended — it can be anything in the
real or imagined world. It may be something that you will analyze or
re-design, or somehow apply principles to. You can “bend” your theme if
needed to apply all of your principles. Examples of topics include an
interesting object or location, or an event that you enjoy. A lovely
building, a vacation, a wedding are examples. Take some time, even days,
to ponder potential topics or themes. Your topic is “good” if it allows you to explain and apply your principles of perception in a good intelligent or creative way. For grading, the principles and their applications are most important.

You can re-use principles from the one-page papers, but re-think them to fit in. You are encouraged to add new principles that fit in. You want a topic that allows good application of your principles. If you have to stretch your theme to do enough principles, that is fine.

This paper is a great way to learn and
remember Perception in a way that works for you. This should be a
quality paper and you can have fun developing it. Students do have fun
and we enjoy reading the papers. This paper is also a good way to
demonstrate learning and understanding of perception, an alternative to
multiple choice tests.

Use your own words, do not copy from elsewhere. If you use your own words, skip the next paragraph.

Warnings about cheating: In a cut and paste world, you the writer should be ready to talk to me about any of the principles,
in case we need to establish authenticity. You won’t have to worry
about this threat if you do the work and use your own words. If you are
re-using your principles from before, tune them to fit in; as long as
you use your words, there is no problem. Your paper will go thru
TurnItIn.

The Assignment: Principles and Topics

Your principles can be large (e.g., SDT) or
small (e.g., a selective attention study, or even a good term). Most of
the principles should be from class (lecture or text), but not all need
be, as long as you can define the perceptual principle. For each
principle:

1. Explain the principle, writing for an educated reader not familiar with perception (don’t assume “I know it”!), and
2. Apply the principle to your topic/theme.

Again, your topic or theme can be
anything in the imagined or real world (anything!). Find or define a
topic that allows you to explain & apply principles of perception in
an interesting way. The theme can stretch to allow you to apply good
principles.

Grading part 1. This paper is
carefully read and the grade is based on the explanations and use of
principles, on creative application, and on overall coherence.
Creativity counts.

Topics/themes. Choose a topic or
theme that you find interesting perceptually. It can help to consider a
number of possible topics and then choose. I’ve never seen a topic I
didn’t like. You can choose as a topic an existing object that you can
analyze (e.g., a building or garden), or a design-problem that you could
solve (e.g., a better traffic intersection), or any type of event
(vacations, weddings…). If analyzing something, why is the existing
design effective or ineffective, attractive or ugly? Can you design a
better solution?

Most important, chose a theme or topic that you can apply your knowledge of perception to. Your choice of topic will be “good” when it allows you to explain and apply good principles of perception.

You can run your topic by us if you start
early enough, there is an optional “feedback opportunity” a week and a
half early: We can look at one draft page, if you submit the Feedback
Option assignment (or you can send a direct email to Prof). NOTE: The
Prof has never seen a topic he didn’t like.

Bring your topic / theme to a focus; if it is too broad or complex the project will be difficult.

Important Details

Credit Sources

Identify where the principles came from; you
can cite chapters in your textbook (e.g., Goldstein & Brockmole,
Chapter 5), lectures (Sanocki, Lecture 14) (< that’s enough for these
two familiar sources), or other sources (give a reference for them),
including people (Betty Jones, personal communication 1/6/2016).
Reference major ideas you’ve borrowed. Images need not be referenced for
this paper.

Quality

The text should be well-written. Drawing ability will not
be graded, but drawings and images and pictures can help. Style is
relevant because it aids in the exposition of ideas—style is a design
problem. You do not need to adhere to APA Style, but it is a good style
to use.

What is the Grade Based On, Part 2?

Grading will be based mainly on the quality
of your scientific principles and their application—how well the
principles are defined and explained, and how effectively they are
applied. Creativity counts. (And more so than exactness!
Principles can be interpreted and applied in multiple ways; you have
some leeway here.) Cleverness and presentation (style, clarity) also
count.

1) attention

2) top down processing

3) bottom up processing

4) photopic

5) short medium and long wavelength

6) Recognition by components theory (RBC)