Cognitive - Study Guide

Question 1

Question 1. Explain one model of memory with reference to one study.

Answer 1

Landry and Bartling (2011)
Phonological loop, central executive, STM, subcomponents, slaves, dual task technique, articulatory suppression, proposed by Baddeley and Hitch, working memory model, 76% average recall in control group and 45% average recall in experimental group, episodic buffer, visuospatial sketchpad

Question 2

Question 2. Explain schema theory with reference to one study.Question 2. Explain schema theory with reference to one study.

Answer 2

Brewer & Treyens (1981)

Schema congruency, assimilation, accomodation, schema = mental representations that are derived from prior experience and knowledge, encoding, storage, retrievalBrewer & Treyens (1981)

Question 3

Question 3. Explain one model of thinking and decision-making with reference to one study.

Answer 3

Tversky & Kahnemann 1974

DUAL PROCESSING MODEL

System 1 = automatic, intuitive and effortless way of thinking that often employs heuristics (prone to biases and errors)
System 2 = slower, conscious, and rational mode of thinking. (More accurate)
Heuristics = mental shortcuts designed to quickly solve a familiar problem but is prone to biases
Proposed by Tversky and Kahnemann
Anchoring bias occurs when people rely too heavily on the first piece of information to make subsequent decisions

Question 4

Question 4. Explain one ethical consideration in one study of one cognitive process.Question 4. Explain one ethical consideration in one study of one cognitive process.

Answer 4

Sharot et al. (2007)

Undue stress, attrition rate, claustrophobia, (battled with informed consent)

Question 5

Question 5. Explain the use of one research method in one study of one cognitive process.

Answer 5

Sharot et al. (2007)

Correlational, cause-and-effect relationship, association between related variables, no manipulation of IV

Question 6

Question 6. Explain the Working Memory Model with reference to one study.

Answer 6

Landry and Bartling (2011)

Phonological loop, central executive, STM, subcomponents, slaves, dual task technique, articulatory suppression, proposed by Baddeley and Hitch, working memory model, 76% average recall in control group and 45% average recall in experimental group, episodic buffer, visuospatial sketchpad

Question 7

Question 7. Explain the Multi-Store Model with reference to one study.

Answer 7

Milner 1966

Model proposed by Atkinson & Shiffrin in 1968. Argues that memory consists of a number of separate stores with sequential transfer. Sensory Memory (stores information related to senses)  STM (stores information for about 6-18 seconds)  LTM (permanent memory store), STM is gateway to LTM, STM can store a limited 7 plus or minus 2 items and information stored is quickly lost if not rehearsed. Hippocampus  responsible for memory consolidation (transferring information from STM to LTM)

Question 8

Question 8. Explain reconstructive memory with reference to one study.

Answer 8

Brewer & Treyens (1981)

Reconstructive memory, distort memory during retrieval to fit their existing schemas (leading to memory distortions), confabulation, leveling, sharpening

Question 9

Question 9. Explain one bias in thinking and decision-making with reference to one study.

Answer 9

Tversky and Kahnemann 1974

System 1 = automatic, intuitive and effortless way of thinking that often employs heuristics (prone to biases and errors)
System 2 = slower, conscious, and rational mode of thinking. (More accurate)
Heuristics = mental shortcuts designed to quickly solve a familiar problem but is prone to biases
Ego depletion
Proposed by Tversky and Kahnemann
Anchoring bias occurs when people rely too heavily on the first piece of information to make subsequent decisions

Question 10

Question 10. Explain one study of the influence of emotion on one cognitive process.

Answer 10

Sharot et al 2007

Flashbulb memory = highly detailed, vivid “snapshot” of the moment when an emotionally arousing event happened, first proposed by Brown & Kulik (1977), amygdala, proximity to the event, evolutionary basis that the brain’s ability to remember fear has most likely played a key role in our survival

Question 11

Question 11. Explain the use of one research method in one study of the reliability of one cognitive process.

Answer 11

Tversky and Kahnemann 1974

Experiment, random allocation of participants to either ascending or descending condition, manipulation of an IV, highly controlled environment, highly replicable experiment

Question 12

Question 12. Explain one ethical consideration in one study of the reliability of cognitive processes.

Answer 12

Brewer & Treyens 1981

Deception utilized, deception by commission (told that they were going to make sure that the previous participants had complete the experiment), debriefing required

Question 13

Question 13. Explain one ethical consideration in one study of the effect of emotion on cognition.

Answer 13

Sharot et al 2007

Undue stress, attrition rate, claustrophobia, (battled with informed consent)

Question 13

Question 14. Explain the use of one research method in one study of the effect of emotion on cognition.

Answer 13

Sharot et al 2007

Correlational, cause-and-effect relationship, association between related variables, no manipulation of IV