The Cognitive Area- Paper 2

Question 1

What are the 3 key assumptions of the cognitive area of psychology?

Revise 2 for exam

Answer 1

1. Behaviour can be largely explained in terms of how the mind operates (e.g. the info processing approach)
2. The mind works in a way similar to a computer- behaviour has a similar process of inputting, storing and retrieving data
3. Cognitive psychology is a pure science, based primarily on laboratory experiments

Remember first 2 ideally

Question 2

What is the modern ‘definition’ of memory?

Answer 2

The capacity to encode, store and retrieve information

Question 3

What is the definition of encoding?

What are the 3 main forms of encoding?

Answer 3

The process of encoding data from one form to another

3 main forms: visual, audio, semantic (definition based)

Question 4

What is the definition of storage in terms of memory?

Answer 4

The process of holding onto info for durations of time

e.g. sensory store, short term, long term

Question 5

What is the definition of retrieval in terms of memory?

Answer 5

The process of recalling information from the past (that has been stored) and using it

e.g. free recall, cued (prompted) recall

Question 6

What is a schema?

Answer 6

A schema is a mental framework/ blueprint representing information you know

Question 7

What is the main idea of the schema theory?

Answer 7

-Each schema in the brain relates to something different, e.g. work, school, fruit etc
-When we come across an object, we identify info we already have in our schemas to help understand what it is we’re experiencing

How memory may influence how we perceive things in every day life

Question 8

Memory (key theme)

What is an eyewitness?

Answer 8

Somebody who sees an event unfold

Question 9

Memory (key theme)

What is a critical question?

Answer 9

The question in L+P’s study with a ‘critical’ verb, which changes across 5 conditions (smashed, hit, bumped, collided, contacted)

Question 10

Memory (key theme)

What is memory distortion?

Answer 10

When memory of an event/ information is affected, and results in false memory

Question 11

Memory (key theme)

What is response bias?

Answer 11

When verb in critical question gives participant a vague idea of an answer they need to give

Question 12

Memory (key theme)

What is recall and retrieval?

Answer 12

• retrieve info from past, lacking cues to help, and using it

Question 13

How does Loftus and Palmer link to their key theme of memory within the cognitive area?

Answer 13

Focused on distortion of memory, in order to do this:
-They used ‘critical verbs
‘ within critical questions (hit, bumped etc)
-Used leading questions
-Concluded that info merges over time and creates ‘one memory’

Question 14

How does Grant et al link to his key theme of memory?

Answer 14

Focused on context dependent memory, in order to do this:
-looked at effect of noise when studying/ testing in (mis)matching conditions
-Concluded context of environment does impact recall and retrieval

Question 15

In what ways are L+P and Grant similar?

Answer 15

-both used males and females
-opportunity sampling
-lab experiments (controls present)

Question 16

How are L+P and Grant different?

Answer 16

-Grant used students of psych, L+P didn’t
-L+P= unethical, Grant= ethical

Question 17

How does Moray link to the key theme of attention?

Answer 17

Focused on Dichotic listening, in order to do this:
-Looked at how we can help info being rejected overcome the attention barrier better
-Concluded that there is an attention barrier in our minds and we only pay attention to info we’re conscious of

Question 18

How do Simons and Chabris link to their key theme of attention?

Answer 18

Focused on inattentional blindness, in order to do this:
-manipulated characteristics of visual info to see how it changed peoples’ perception
-Concluded that we have inattentional blindness, expecially if we are engaged in a ‘focus’ task

Question 19

In what ways are Moray and S+C similar?

Answer 19

-lab experiments (controls present)
-Study 3 and S+C study used independent measures
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Question 20

In what ways are Moray and S+C different?

Answer 20

-