Cognitive Approach

Question 1

What are the three key assumptions of the cognitive approach?

Answer 1

1) thought processes can, and should be, studied scientifically
2) mind works like a computer in that it has an input from our senses, from which it then processes and produces an output (eg specific behaviour)
3) studying stimulus and response is appropriate but only if thought processes that occur in between are acknowledged

Question 2

What is meant by information processing?

Answer 2

The cognitive approach studies information processing
This means the way we deal with info from the environment/ experiences
Can include selecting info (attention), using info to solve problems (thinking) or storing/ retrieving info (memory)

Question 3

Why can’t thought processes be studied directly?

Answer 3

They are too abstract/ subjective to be studied directly
Must be studied indirectly and inferences are made about what cognitive processes have occured, based on behaviour
Cognitive psychologists develop theories about different mental processes that cause behaviours

Question 4

Brewer and Treyens study

Answer 4

Aim to study the effect of pre existing schema on memory
Participants shown into room they believed was the experimenters office, told to wait (30-50 secs)
Once left office asked to write what they could remember

Question 5

What were the findings of the Brewer and Treyens study?

Answer 5

-most remember schematic objects
-recall items that were unusual/ not in keeping with schema
-things that were not in the room but should have been
Schema can affect what we remember and distort memory if they’re objects not in keeping with the schema

Question 6

Positives of Brewer & Treyens

Answer 6

Scientific

Highly controlled

Question 7

Negatives of Brewer and Treyens

Answer 7

Poor ecological validity

Question 8

Positives of the cognitive approach

Answer 8

Improvement on behaviourism as it acknowledges the role of thoughts
Uses scientific methods such as lab experiments
Led to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Question 9

Weaknesses of cognitive approach

Answer 9

Low ecological validity as it uses artificial and unrealistic environments
Theoretical models may be too simple
Comparison to computer models may be invalid due to key differences

Question 10

What is the role of theoretical models?

Answer 10

Simplified representations of the mental processes occurring during certain tasks
Form of diagrams to indicate parts of the mind

Question 11

Describe the emergence of cognitive neuroscience

Answer 11

Combines several psychological disciplines (mainly cognitive psychology and neuroscience)
Look for biological basis for thought process- may have been outlined by theoretical/ computer models

Question 12

Describe PET brain mapping technology

Answer 12

Inject radio active substance to detect rates blood flow (associated with brain functions)

Question 13

Describe fmri brain mapping tech

Answer 13

Is a measurement of metabolic activity

Sensitive to blood oxygenation

Question 14

What was the aim of the McGuire et al brain scans?

Answer 14

Attempt to demonstrate the plasticity of the brain
Investigate if changes could be seen in brains of London taxi drivers
Look into functions of hippocampus in spatial memory

Question 15

What is the hippocampus?

Answer 15

Part of the brain thought to be the centre of emotion, memory and autonomic nervous system

Question 16

What is meant by spatial memory?

Answer 16

Part if memory responsible for recording info about one’s environment and it’s spatial orientation

Question 17

What is ‘neuro plasticity’?

Answer 17

Changes that happen in the organisation of the brain in response to experience

Question 18

Describe the procedure of Maguire et al

Answer 18

1) MRI scans of 50 healthy, right handed, male non taxi drivers aged 33-61 analysed to create comparison data base of average hippocampi- compare with 16 right handed taxi drivers
2) MRI scans of brains analysed and compared

Question 19

What were the findings of Maguire et al?

Answer 19

Increased volume of grey matter in both sides of hippocampi in taxi drivers
Volume of sections of the hippocampus increase as time as a driver increases

Question 20

Define what is meant by a cognitive approach

Answer 20

Study of mental processes and their role in thinking, feeling and behaving