Cognitive appdoach

Question 1

Common research methods - 2

Answer 1

Experiments - overt - not natural behaviour believe in scientific methods

self-reports - to investigate peoples thoughts

Question 2

Research examples- 4

Answer 2

Perception

Attention

Language

Thoughts

Question 3

Applications of this area - 2

Answer 3

• we can educate the importance of studying in matched conditions
• we can prevent leading questions in important situations - court questions

Question 4

Strengths of the approach

Answer 4

By comparing the mind to a computer processor it uses a scientific approach through using lab experiments

L+P’s participants were shown clips of car crashes in a controlled setting and asked to estimate cars speed before the crash

Allows cause and affect to be clearly seen also the results tend to be reliable due to the standardised procedure and controls

Question 5

Strengths of the approach

Answer 5

Cognitive approach is the useful contributions that have arisen from it

Grant hopes this to better understand the best way for students in, matched conditions is best

Enables us to bring psychology to the masses so they can understand and improve their own memory

Question 6

Weaknesses of the approach

Answer 6

The cognitive approach is reductionist it simplifies the complex human behaviour by only focusing on mental processes overlooks individual social and biological influences on individuals behaviour

L+P Focus on the effect of the verb on memory recall they ignore social influences of the students example - experience or lack of driving and speed estimate

The benefit of focusing only on cognitive factors is that more depth and focus on understanding how the brain works can be generated and it is useful

Question 7

Weakness of the approach

Answer 7

Can’t directly measure mental processes so it relies heavily on self-reports participants could Lie or be influenced by demand characteristics and processing methods could be wrong

In Grant we don’t know whether participants actually remembered fewer words in mismatched conditions or whether they were influenced by demand characteristics

Results will have lower internal validity as they rely on 100% honesty from participants in their reports, due to social desirability and demand characteristics this isn’t always the case

Question 8

Main assumptions - 4

Answer 8

Computer models can be used to describe human behaviour

cognitive processes actively organise and manipulate information that we receive

input - processing - output

Mental processes = investigated scientifically