UNIT 1: INTRODUCTION TO
PSYCHOLOGY
AREA OF STUDY 1: WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY?
PERCEPTUAL SET
EMPIRICAL RESEARCH
ACTIVITY
CAUSE
EFFECT
Hypothesis
 Independent Variable
 Dependent Variable

PERCEPTUAL SET
RAT/MAN EMPIRICAL RESEARCH
ACTIVITY
PERCEPTUAL SET
LOOK CLOSELY AT THIS IMAGE
OF A SEAL TRAINER, TRAINING
A SEAL TO BALANCE A BALL ON
ITS NOSE
PERCEPTUAL SET
LOOK CLOSELY AT THIS IMAGE
OF A MAN HOLDING HIS
LADY’S HAND AS HE ENTERS
THE COSTUME PARTY
PERCEPTUAL SET
Perceptual set =
the predisposition or ‘readiness’ to
perceive something in accordance with
what we expect it to be
PERCEPTUAL SET
5 factors influence perceptual set;





Context
Motivation
Emotional State
Past Experience
Cultural Factors
PERCEPTUAL SET
CONTEXT
Refers to the setting or environment in
which a perception is made
PERCEPTUAL SET
MOTIVATION
Refers to the processes within us which
activate behaviour that is directed
towards achieving a particular goal
PERCEPTUAL SET
EMOTIONAL STATE
How we are feeling can also influence the
way in which we perceive visual
information
PERCEPTUAL SET
PAST EXPERIENCE
Refers to our personal experiences
throughout our lives which leads to
many individual differences in
perception
PERCEPTUAL SET
CULTURAL FACTORS
Experience with or in a particular
culture can influence the way we process
and interpret visual information
HOMEWORK
Learning Activity 3.25 (pg.130)
RESEARCH METHODS
Learning Activity 2.4 (pg.57)
Learning Activity 2.5 (pg.58)
Learning Activity 2.23 (pg.86)