Cognitive psychology Flashcards
what is the cognitive psychology?
It is focused on the internal operations of the mind. cognitive psychology tries to explain our behaviour in terms of how the mind processes,stores and recalls info.
What does the cognitive approach explain?
it explains behaviour in terms of how the mind processes, stores and recalls info.
the computer analogy
Many cognitive psychologists compare the mind to a computer and often computer terminology is used to discuss and outline how the mind handles info and controls behaviour.
Assumption of cognitive approach
It ASSUMES our behaviour is determined by internal mental processes such as our memory and interpretation of previous events.
what does the cognitive approach favour?
It favours the experimental method to record behaviour.
1 strength of cognitive approach
- Uses high level of controlled lab experiments to help establish cause and effect between variables.
why is lab experiments a strength of cognitive approach?
Because the cognitive mind is complex and extraneous variables need to be controlled for in order to establish cause and effect between IV and cognitive processes measured by the dv.
1 weakness of cognitive approach
low ecological validity and lack mundane realism meaning cognitions hard to apply to real life settings as most studies are in artificial environment.
Another strength of cognitive approach is…
research can be very useful having many practical applications to real world e.g useful advice for student and teachers.
Another weakness to cognitive approach is…
tends to be reductionist and ignores other factors that also may influence human behaviour such as social and biological factors etc…
3rd strength of cognitive approach…
objective & scientific makes it easier to test such studies for reliability and creating high internal validity.
3rd weakness of cognitive approach…
approach is based on abstract concepts e.g thinking &memory which cannot physically see. can only understand by observation of behaviour. Therefore leads to subjunctive interpretations on what cognitive processes are and can reduce validity of approach making it less useful.
How does Loftus and Palmer link to the cognitive approach?
because it is investigating the cognitive process of MEMORY. Specifically, it aimed to investigate the reconstructive nature of memory, showing that info that is supplied after an event in the form of LEADING QUESTIONS may have an effect on the eye-witness’ memory of the event and lead them to remember things they didn’t actually witness.
How does Grant et al’s study link to the cognitive approach?
As it is investigating the cognitive process of MEMORY. Specifically it aimed to investigate context dependent memory. The study demonstrated a context dependency effect of both recall and recognition of newly learnt meaningful material so that recall is improved when the context of learning material MATCHES the context of recall.
How does Moray’s study link to the cognitive approach?
Because it is investigating the cognitive process of ATTENTION. Specifically it aimed to investigate selective attention by trying to find out whether (and what types of) ‘unattended’ material could break through the attentional barrier that is set up when a person focuses their listening on a specific task.
