Perception - Insight, intuition, or knowledge gained by perceiving. We all perceive those around us because of the way in which the human mind processes information.

Opinion - a view or judgment formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge. Opinion, however, is a matter of arriving at a decision based on initial perceptions. Opinion is when you take the information filtered through your perception, analyze it, and arrive at a decision, regardless of how flawed your analysis might be.

http://www.online-pr.com/Holding/Truth,FactsandPerceptions.pdf

Perceptions research is concerned with exploration of the study nature and variables, while opinion research is concerned in building relations and examining causalities.

It is quite interesting and lyrical question. Perception is build upon certain observation and evidence. But, it is not the case with “opinion”. Opinion is bit vulnerable and vague as compared to perception. Opinion(s) may include guess work, I think so.

Dear Debi,

My first thought was that opinions come much later – after our perceptions. But I guess we hardly ever perceive anything without some – unconscious? – beliefs. These beliefs will controll our perceptions in a certain way. They will select what we perceive in a situation. No perception without filtering

The interpretations we give to betray reality evaluations, opinions, beliefs and ideas that we humans have of reality itself. It is as if we looked through a filter, as if we were talking about using our own expressions that shape is as we want.

Read these sentences:

a) I'll call him later.

b) Since Laura is playing, still has not called me.

c) I do not think the are cute

Which of these is a fact and which an opinion ?

When they offered me the same question I answered that (c) is certainly an opinion while (b) and (a) are facts.

Do you agree?

How would you respond?

Dear Martin Schulz,

I think, opinion can lead to belief when it is enriched with more relevant knowledge.

Is there any difference between perception and opinion since later is based on former

Perception - Insight, intuition, or knowledge gained by perceiving. We all perceive those around us because of the way in which the human mind processes information.

Opinion - a view or judgment formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge. Opinion, however, is a matter of arriving at a decision based on initial perceptions. Opinion is when you take the information filtered through your perception, analyze it, and arrive at a decision, regardless of how flawed your analysis might be.

http://www.online-pr.com/Holding/Truth,FactsandPerceptions.pdf

Dear Debi,

The deep root of your question lies in scientific paradigms and contradictions between positivistic rigor and constructivist flexibility.

Dear Ierardi Enzo

I agree that b) is a fact, but I would not call a) a fact because it is about a future event – or we can say it is about an intention.

I agree with Mahfuz perception and opinion to the question.  Meanwhile most of you argue that perception preceeded opinion. To me you can't base your opinion without perceiving a matter.

Dear all. Thanks for your very interesting threads for this question. Can we say that opinions can be based on perception and/or experiences. But we do not say that we perceive on the basis of experience. Perceptions are mostly based on unverified or incomplete or in some cases even untrue information. Of course, they could well be true. Opinions are more likely to true than perceptions. For example, a doctor's opinion and the patient's perception about the problem that the patient has.

Dear Nages, your point is very interesting. Surely, an opinion is more likly to be a decision based on perceptions; but perceptions by theselves are not decisions.  The human mind keeps on perceiving things around, and then often takes decisions based on these perceptions i.e. whether to initiate a dialogue with the person sitting next to you in the train.

Perceptions are built according to calculations while opinions are built on personal views and experiences.

Waste management and resource efficiency are key elements of EU environmental policy and the Europe 2020 strategy. This survey seeks to understand citizens’ perceptions, attitudes and practices related to the efficient use of resources and the generation and management of waste, as well as elements of the so-called “circular economy” (including second-hand products and alternatives to buying new products).

http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/index_en.htm

Neat question, and one I have pondered from time to time. It is said we live in an age of instant opinion, implying that we may have a view about a subject based on neither experience nor any form of detailed examination of the subject - it is an opinion. To perceive however implies some contact with the subject in the past; it is something that has been considered, implicitly requiring a degree of consideration beyond instant expression of a view. Of course, the distinction being made here implies a continuum - from careful perception that permits a sophisticated degree of neural modeling at one end of the continuum to, on the other hand, something barely previously considered - i.e a 'mere opinion' with little justification for the viewpoint being expressed.  Both an opinion and a perception may become the basis for some behaviour -even if it initiates a search for more information. An opinion can become a perception - can a perception become an opinion?  I think the above logic (which may well be faulty) implies not if we take the assumption of a perception being informed by more than chance hearsay. In the common vernacular however, do we make this form of distinction. I suspect not and hence the terms become interchangeable - until of course some-one asks if they are the same  :-)

Dear all, dear Chris

Indeed, we may ask if the two terms can  reflect the same or similar features. Chris makes an interesting observation: "...hence the terms become interchangeable - until of course some-one asks if they are the same." This adds an interesting dimension to the debate. 

Dear @Kamal, a perfect  visual illustration.

According to the Oxford Dictionary, perception is a way in which something is regarded, understood, or interpreted. Or, perception is the ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through the senses.

On the other hand, an opinion (according to Webster’s Dictionary) is (1) a judgment about a person or thing; (2) a belief based on experience and on seeing certain facts that falls short of positive knowledge; (3) a statement by an expert after careful study; or (4) a formal statement from a judge or court of the reasons for a legal decision.

Dear Martin Schulz, Debi, Bani and friends all, your consideration is correct. My question has a provocative aspect that I serched to mask in order to simulate the discussion. Thank you.

Dear Enzo Ierardi,

Excellent strategy to stimulate the discussion! And successful…

Links by Kamal and Nageswara analyses are excellent. I would like to add a remark. There are many psychologists and philosophers that give "perception" a priority. Others prefer cognition. This is the same problem as "empiricism" vs. "apriorism". I always believe in synthesis. Furthermore "opinion" is something formed under uncertainty. 

I think this may be a more complex question than it seems. It appears that everyone pretty much looks at perceptions and opinions from "outside" of the brain, meaning what is observable. I have experience with looking at these from the inside (chemical) rather than the outside but I can see that the philosophical/psychological perspective (outside views) have very different take on this subject than biochemical (insider) view.

From the perspective of the inside, perception comes first and it comes in as unconscious notice of something that happened. The brain is very fast but slow enough for you to discover this. Close your eyes and have a colleague hold a drawing or a photo up of an object and then open your eyes. First you will have a look, may squint, may move close (perception) and then a recognition arrives (opinion) and you have come full circle. 

To put it in other words, neurotransmitters are activated with great complexity by your eyes (you can tell this when the paper you look at has 7 dots instead of 8 as one is missing.. if you look at it long enough, the 8th dot will appear (an opinion based on perception). So signals come in through the eyes but eyes do not understand images; they only transfer colors, dark, and light, It is the visual cortex that has to decide what it is that you see. The visual cortex has connections all over in the brain. They can recall memory, see the future, etc.

It takes time for the signal from the eyes to be translated into an image in the visual cortex. The image also has to pass through the limbic system to see if you should be scared and run away or relax and enjoy and then it has to make it to the frontal cortex to create an opinion. 

Thus if you look at the chemical route: perception is a "to be discovered" stage and opinion is a stage of "discovered."

Dear Angela

I am sure you are familiar with the work of Arnold Trehub. Maybe it is interesting for the other fellows in the context of your arguments:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/257426860_The_Science_of_Consciousness_Where_It_is_and_Where_It_Should_be?ev=prf_pub

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236952250_Where_Am_I_Redux?ev=prf_pub

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237044125_Evolution%27s_Gift_Subjectivity_and_the_Phenomenal_World?ev=prf_pub

Article The Science of Consciousness: Where It is and Where It Should be

Article Where am I? Redux

Chapter Evolution's Gift: Subjectivity and the Phenomenal World

Thanks for the links Martin! No, I was not yet familiar with his work since this is not within my field of specialty, only curiosity. So I greatly appreciate your link! I downloaded all three and will be reading them.