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Visual Perception

PSY503

Course CodePSY503
ECTS

Course Description

This aim of this unit is to equip learners with the knowledge and understanding of visual perception and the main ways for us to gather information about the world around us and about ourselves. Thus, studying visual perception naturally leads on how cognition works. Visual perception will also provide knowledge on cerebral mechanisms of vision. The unit discusses different theoretical approaches to studying visual perception and introduces the most important concepts.

Course Objectives

This aim of this unit is to equip learners with the knowledge and understanding of visual perception and the main ways for us to gather information about the world around us and about ourselves. Thus, studying visual perception naturally leads on how cognition works. Visual perception will also provide knowledge on cerebral mechanisms of vision. The unit discusses different theoretical approaches to studying visual perception and introduces the most important concepts.

Key Topics

  1. LO1: Understand the structure of the visual system.
  2. LO2: Understand theories of visual perception.
  3. LO3: Understand the development of perceptual abilities.
  4. LO4: Understand visual perceptual development in the debate of nature v nurture.

Course Outline

WeekTopics
1Structure and function of the visual system: the eye, retina and visual pathways
2Blindness and damage to the eye and visual cortex
3Visual information processing: sensory adaptation, contrast, colour and feature processing
4Constructivist theories: Gregory (1972) and the Gestalt approach
5Direct and computational theories: Gibson (1979) and Marr (1982)
6Development of depth perception: Gibson and Walk (1960), Turnbull (1963)
7Development of visual constancies: Bower (1966)
MidtermMidterm evaluation
9Differentiation theory (Gibson and Gibson 1955) and enrichment theory (Piaget 1954)
10Evidence for nurture (restricted experience, perceptual deprivation) and for nature (animal studies, direct perception)
11Synthesising the nature v nurture debate in visual perception; coursework preparation
12Assessment workshop: drafting against the assessment criteria, one-to-one tutorials, formative feedback on drafts
13Supervised completion and submission
14Assignment workshop: drafting, feedback and improvement
15Review and coursework completion
FinalFinal assessment and submission

Learning Outcomes

  1. LO1 Understand the structure of the visual system.
  2. 1.1 Describe the key structure and function of the visual system.
  3. 1.2 Analyse the nature of visual information processing.
  4. LO2 Understand theories of visual perception.
  5. 2.1 Identify theories of visual perception.
  6. 2.2 Analyse the application of theories of visual perception.
  7. LO3 Understand the development of perceptual abilities.
  8. 3.1 Describe the development of perceptual abilities.
  9. 3.2 Analyse cross cultural studies of infant perceptual development.
  10. LO4 Understand visual perceptual development in the debate of nature v nurture.
  11. 4.1 Explain the role of visual perceptual development in the debate of nature v nurture.
  12. 4.2 Analyse the nature v nurture debate as it relates to visual perceptual development.
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