Chapter 7 Flashcards
(29 cards)
information-processing approach
An approach that focuses on the ways children process information about their world—how they manipulate information, monitor it, and create strategies to deal with it.
encoding
The mechanism by which information gets into memory.
automaticity
The ability to process information with little or no effort.
strategy construction
Creation of new procedures for processing information.
metacognition
Cognition about cognition, or “knowing about knowing.”
Piaget theorized that cognitive development occurs in four stages:
sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational.
attention
Concentrating and focusing mental resources.
selective attention
Focusing on a specific aspect of experience that is relevant while ignoring others that are irrelevant.
divided attention
Concentrating on more than one activity at the same time.
sustained attention
Maintaining attention to a selected stimulus for a prolonged period of time. Sustained attention is also called focused attention and vigilance.
executive attention
Involves planning actions, allocating attention to goals, detecting and compensating for errors, and monitoring progress on tasks while sometimes dealing with novel or difficult circumstances.
joint attention
Individuals focusing on the same object or event; requires the ability to track behavior, one person directing another’s attention, and reciprocal interaction.
memory
Retention of information over time.
short-term memory
Limited-capacity memory system in which information is usually retained for up to 30 seconds ifthere is no rehearsal of the information. Using rehearsal, individuals can keep the information in short-term memory longer.
long-term memory
A relatively permanent and long-lasting type of memory.
working memory
A mental “workbench” where individuals actively use memory to manipulate and assemble information when making decisions, solving problems, and comprehending written and spoken language.
schema theory
States that when people reconstruct information, they fit it into information that already exists in their minds.
schemas
Mental frameworks that organize concepts and information.
fuzzy trace theory
States that memory is best understood by considering two types of memory representations: (1)verbatim memory trace; and (2) fuzzy trace, or gist. According to this theory, older children’s better memory is attributed to the fuzzy traces created by extracting the gist of information.
implicit memory
Memory without conscious recollection; memory of routine activities that are performed automatically.
explicit memory
Conscious memory of facts and experiences.
thinking
Transforming and manipulating information in memory. Individuals think in order to reason, reflect, evaluate ideas, solve problems, and make decisions.
concepts
Cognitive groupings of similar objects, events, people, or ideas.
executive function
An umbrella-like concept that consists of a number of higher-level cognitive processes linked to the development of the brain’s prefrontal cortex. Executive function involves managing one’s thoughts to engage in goal- directed behavior and to exercise self-control.
