Identify and briefly describe each of the stages in the perceptual process.

There are four stages in the perceptual process: information attention and selection, organization of information, information interpretation, and information retrieval. Information attention and selection involves the screening of the vast amount of information bombarding a person to determine the information on which he/she will actually focus. Organization of information involves the use of schemas -- person, script, and person-in-situation -- to efficiently organize the information that is perceived. Information interpretation involves giving meaning to the information that is perceived. Information retrieval involves accessing information that is stored in memory. Information attention and selection, organization of information, and information interpretation form part of a person's memory and contribute to the information stored there.