1:3 The cognitive (r)evolution Flashcards
Which neo-behaviorist used rats in T mazes to explore more complex or purposive behavior?
American psychologist Edward Tolman
Also considered part of current day’s wider cognitive behaviourist tradition
Describe Tolman’s concept of latent learning (4 points).
Latent = dormant or concealed learning.
Occurs through exposure to environmental stimuli without any reinforcement.
Limited change in actual behavior during the exposure.
Animal can rapidly learn subsequent reinforced behavior.
Eg: rats learned maze while exploring, then used that spatial location information (route) to change behavior – took a shorter route when food was introduced.
Which type of model did latent learning challenge?
Why?
Operant conditioning models.
Operant theorists’ attempts at explanation were often rather elaborate and convoluted.
Operant theorists had to break the guiding rule of scientific parsimony in order to fit evidence into their model, which avoided using cognitive constructs.
Describe Tolman’s mental map.
Processing of stimulus or environment –>
Transformation of information into a stored representation or map –>
Processing that permits access to specific information within the map –>
Plan and execute an adaptive behavioral response, motivated by reward.
In cognitive psychology, the ability to make testable predictions of its hypothetical constructs is sometimes called:
Surplus meaning.
We can use induction to posit the construct’s existence AND we can use scientific deduction to hypothesize and reveal new knowledge through experiments.
Why was behaviourism criticized for lack of surplus meaning?
They had to continually adapt and become more complex to fit into accumulating data, rather than providing new directions of study to unexplored areas.
Theory with no surplus meaning becomes closed and sterile.
What are three major building blocks of cognitive psychology
- Cognitive domains (functions)
- Cognitive structures (forms & representations)
- Cognitive processes
(operations & transformation)
Cognitive domains encompass all domains, within an overarching framework and set of empirical methods.
Cognitive domains = functions.
Give three examples of COGNITIVE DOMAINS.
Perception Language Attention Learning Memory Decision making Problem-solving Judgement & reasoning Action
Cognitive structures are modular units that serve a function within one or more domains.
Cognitive structures = forms & representations.
Give three examples of COGNITIVE STRUCTURES.
Knowledge Symbols Images Concepts Interpretations Appraisals Rules Schema Beliefs
Cognitive processes are the means by which cognitive structures change or information is transformed.
Cognitive processes = operations & transformations.
Give three examples of COGNITIVE PROCESSES.
Association Comparison Discrimination Categorisation Evaluating Appraising Encoding Storing Retrieval
True or False: Cognitive psychology is directly concerned with how hypothetical constructs exist or function physically within the brain.
False.
There is no need to assume a particular cognitive structure or process has an equivalent physical representation within the brain structure or system.
What study field combines cognition and brain biology; psychology and neuroscience?
Cognitive neuroscience
Structures and processes that have emerged from the two-way interaction between cognitive theory and empirical research are known as:
Hypothetical constructs (from a purely cognitive perspective).
Who first experimented with the symbolic retrieval of information and what method did he use?
Saul Sternburg, 1966.
He used written numbers to convey meaning.
He studied short-term memory.
MEMORY SCANNING PARADIGM:
Participants studied a sequence of numbers and had to recall whether a specific number was present.
Empirical question: What is the effect of the length of the list on the time taken to make an accurate decision?
Results: The longer the list length, the longer the mean or average reaction time.
What type of memory search compares the test item and study numbers item by item until a match is found?
What is the predicted reaction time of that strategy?
Serial search (item-by-item).
Predicted reaction time: Increases with the number of items in the list.
Note: There is a strong, linear relationship between reaction time and list length.
What type of memory search compares the test item with the whole set, all at once in one’s memory.
What is the predicted reaction time of that strategy?
Parallel search (whole set).
Predicted reaction time: Is the same regardless of list length.
