Categorical Perception: Identification and Discrimination

Assignment 2: Categorical Perception: Identification and Discrimination

Across the United States and the world,
people speak English with many different accents. How is it that we can
understand what is being said whether one speaks with a Southern
“drawl,” a New England “clip,” or a Western “twang?” Categorical
perception may be one of the ways that our perceptual processes help us
understand words spoken with different accents.

Access the following CogLab demonstrations and follow the instructions to complete both demonstrations (these are listed under the Speech & Language tab).

• Categorical Perception: Identification
• Categorical Perception: Discrimination

Using the textbook and module readings, the
Argosy University online library resources, and the Internet, research
the effect of training on one’s ability to make perceptual
discriminations.

Based on the demonstrations and your research, address the following:

• Define categorical perception. Differentiate between identification and discrimination.
• Explain whether your personal experimental results
  for both demonstrations follow patterns similar to the predicted
  experimental results.
• In many situations, you may be forced to make
  categorical judgments. Name a job in which someone has to categorize
  people or things that actually fall on a continuum. Describe the
  categorization this person would have to make.
• Describe your views on why it is useful to have categorical speech perception.
• Experience and training can affect your ability to
  make perceptual discriminations. Explain whether you agree or disagree
  with this statement.

Support your answers with adequate reasoning and scholarly research and references.

Write a 2–3-page paper in Word format. Be
sure to include a title page and a reference page. Apply APA standards
to citation of sources. Use the following file naming convention:
LastnameFirstInitial_M4_A2.doc.

By Wednesday, May 10, 2017, deliver your assignment to the M4: Assignment 2 Dropbox.

Cognitive Psychology Online Laboratory. CogLab 2.0 Online Laboratory. Wadsworth.

Assignment 2 Grading Criteria

Maximum Points

Defined categorical perception and differentiated between identification and discrimination.

8

Explained whether your

personal experimental results for both demonstrations follow patterns

similar to the predicted experimental results.

12

Identified a job that

requires categorization of people or things that actually fall on a

continuum and described the categorization that has to be made.

20

Described your opinion on why it is useful to have categorical speech perception.

20

Explained your opinion on whether experience and training can affect your ability to make perceptual discriminations.

20

Wrote in a clear, concise,

and organized manner; demonstrated ethical scholarship in accurate

representation and attribution of sources; displayed accurate spelling,

grammar, and punctuation.

20

Total:

100