Virtual goal- keeping: Understanding how perception influences decisions about action

Perception and Action Research Lab (http://www.qub.ac.uk/parl), School of Psychology, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, N.Ireland.
Email: cathy.craig@qub.ac.uk

Abstract

According to Gibson’s theory of direct perception, humans and animals perceive and interact with surfaces (e.g. grass), places (e.g. pitch), objects (e.g. ball) and events (e.g. a set-play) (Gibson, 1966). All these so called properties of the surrounding environment provide opportunities for action. This relationship between the environment and player and the ensuing action possibilities are known as affordances. Affordances are essentially the starting point for psychologists trying to understand how humans perceive, learn, and decide to act upon events they perceive to be taking place in their surrounding environment (Turvey, 1992). This area of psychology assumes a player-environment mutuality and reciprocity. As Gibson said we “move to perceive and perceive to move”. Perceptual processes and action capabilities are therefore intricately linked and play a crucial role in the decision making process.