Perception is the basis of a human's ability to see, hear, and make sense out of these senses. The different types of perception include bottom-up processing, which researchers sometimes refer to data-driven processing, top-down processing, which is sometimes called conceptually driven processing. There are also different ways of viewing perception. An alternative theory believes there are two ways people use perception, the direct view, and the constructive view. Direct relates to the top-down method, while constructive relates to the bottom-up method.

It is probably possible to function cognitively solely on one type of perception, but that would make for a very narrow and constricting view of the world. In reality, the two processes of perception actually compliment and aid each other, leading to a greater depth of perception and understanding as people attempt to make sense of the world around them. Just as perception relies on many senses, it relies on many different forms of perception and evaluation. Using just one type would limit our perception and recognition of the world around us. A good example is the figure on page 78, which illustrates what happens when there are few visual grouping clues available to help make sense out of an object. With few visual clues, we must rely on other clues in our perception to help make sense of the figure, and that illustrates why different types of perception must be present to create a total view of the world around us.

Our sensory systems must work together to form perceptions, and that also illustrates why a person cannot function with only one cognitive type of perception. Just as our brains have left and right sides that coordinate diverse activities, our perceptions must rely on different processes, as well. It is not possible to gain a balanced view of anything without combining methods and processes, and perception is no exception.

References

Basics of perception and awareness.