Approaches - the cognitive approach

Question 1

What are the main points of the cognitive approach?

Answer 1

Role of schema and theoretical and computer models

Question 2

What is the cognitive approach?

Answer 2

Focused on how our mental processes affect behaviour

Question 3

What does the cognitive approach argue?

Answer 3

That internal mental processes can and should be studied scientifically

Question 4

What does the cognitive approach investigate?

Answer 4

memory, perception and thinking

Question 5

What are these processes (memory, perception and thinking)?

Answer 5

Private and cannot be observed so they are studied indirectly by making inferences about what is going on inside people’s minds

Question 6

What is schema?

Answer 6

A mental framework of beliefs and expectations that infuence cognitive processing - developed from experience

Question 7

What schema are babies born with?

Answer 7

Simple motor schema for inate behaviours such as sucking

Question 8

What do schemas enable?

Answer 8

Us to process lots of information quickly and this is useful as a mental shortcut that prevents us from being overwhelmed by environmental stimuli

Question 9

What is a downfall of schemas?

Answer 9

They can distort our interpretations of sensory information, leading to perceptual errors

Question 10

What do cognitive psychologists use?

Answer 10

Both theoretical and computer models to help them understand internal mental processes

Question 11

What are theoretical models?

Answer 11

Abstract

Question 12

What are computer models?

Answer 12

Concrete

Question 13

What is one important theoretical model?

Answer 13

Information processing approach

Question 14

What does the information processing approach suggest?

Answer 14

That information flows through the cognitive system in a sequence of stages which include input, storage and retrieval

Question 15

What is the information processing model based on?

Answer 15

The way that computers function but a computer model would involve actually programming a computer to see if the instructions produce a similar output to humans

Question 16

What is cognitive neuroscience?

Answer 16

The scientific study of those biological structures that underpin cognitive processes

Question 17

What did Paul Broca indentify?

Answer 17

That damage to the area of the frontal lobe could permanently impair speech production

Question 18

What have fMRI and PET scans helped with?

Answer 18

scientists able to scientifically observe and describe the neurological basis of mental processes

Question 19

What is one strength of the cognitive approach?

Answer 19

Scientific methods

Question 20

What is the evaluation of the cognitive approach having scientific methods?

Answer 20

P: Uses objective, scientific methods
E: Infer cognitive processes at work
E: Involved the use of lab studies
E: Emergence of cognitive neuroscience
L: Study of the mind has credible scientific basis

Question 21

What is one limitation of the cognitive approach?

Answer 21

Machine reductionism

Question 22

What is the evaluation of the cognitive approach having machine reductionism?

Answer 22

P: Based on machine reductionism
E: Computer analogy is criticised
E: Ignore the influence of human emotion and motivation on the cognitive system and how it affects our ability to process info
L: Weaken the validity of the cognitive approach

Question 23

What is another strength of the cognitive approach?

Answer 23

Real world application

Question 24

What is the evaluation of the cognitive approach having real world application?

Answer 24

P: Has practical application
E: Applied to a wide range of practical and theoretical contexts
E: Important contribution in the field of artifical intelligence
E: improved the witness of eyewitness testimony
L: Supports the value of the cognitive approach