Sensory Information, Research Paper Example

Sensory information is a tool used in most decisions, both personally and business related.  There is a certain amount of accuracies and inaccuracies that can be attributed to our sensory information.  Accuracies of sensory information can be associated with a feeling.  This means if coffee heat can be felt through a cup, the sensory would advise us it’s too hot to drink.  Perhaps this is based on prior experience, but it is still sensory information that tells us not to take a big gulp of it.   Another accuracy is smell.  The smell of smoke would trigger the response of a fire.  This would prevent an individual from running towards it and to call for help.  The last sensory that provides accurate information is sight.  If we can visibly see that it is raining outside, we would know to take an umbrella.  If it is sunny, we know to grab our sun glasses and sun screen.  This is another accurate sensory.  Inaccuracies can occur as a result of sensory information as well.   For example if an individual sees a dog get hit by a car, they may incorrectly associate cars with the death of an animal.  Yes it does happen, but not enough to link the two together.  Another incorrect sensory could be sight.  A person playing hide and seek may not see the opponent because he is hiding.  Just because he is not visually noticeable does not mean he is not there.  Finally, there is always a certain amount of inaccuracies associated with sensory information because it is based on a certain amount perception.  Perception varies from individual to individual and can be misinterpreted.

There are factors that contribute to the accuracy of sensory data.  This is based on experience, perception, and knowledge making the accuracy higher in some situations.  ” The sensory memory for visual stimuli is sometimes known as the iconic memory, the memory for aural stimuli is known as the echoic memory and that for touch as the haptic memory.” (Mastin 2008)  The first factor contributing to the accuracy of sensory data is visual or iconic memory.  The second factor is memory, what is personally remembered or echoic memory.  The last factor for accuracy is touch, or the haptic memory. 

The role of nature and nurture is important in the interpretation and evaluation of sensory data.  Infancy is the time when the brain activities are directly affected by the visual mechanisms.   The perception of vision changes as one progresses based on knowledge and direction.  This can be attributed to the nurture role, what is taught as right and wrong associated with what one sees.   Perception is directly related to experience from context effects and personal associations.  Sensory data is not something that is learned out of a book, it is directly associated from experience as one ages.  As a child we may look learn to turn our head when a kissing scene comes on the television, because we are taught that is bad for children.  When age progresses that same experience can becomes acceptable because our personal experiences have evolved as well.   Our parents did not change what they taught us about kissing; it’s that our own experience has changed the sensory data on how we process that same experience.

Sensory information aids in making decisions both personally and professionally.  What we learn along the way is based on what we have learned as a result of our sensory perceptions.  Without feeling, seeing, and hearing we would be void of many things that we have learned.  Knowing the differences between the accuracies and inaccuracies is important in decision making as well.  Identifying and utilizing the factors that contributes to the accuracy of sensory data.  Finally it is important to understanding the role of nature and nurture with sensory information.  When it is formed and how it evolves throughout time and experience.   Sensory information continues to grow and change with experience and it is an important part of decision making.

Reference

Mastin, L. (2008). The Human Memory. Retrieved from http://www.human-memory.net/types_sensory.html