Booklet 2 - The cognitive approach Flashcards
What are the key assumptions of the cognitive approach?
It focusses on the internal processes of the human mind - mainly memory, perception and thinking
and believe thoughts influence behaviour and the human mind is similar the operation of a computer and processes can be scientifically studied
What is internal mental processes?
Internal mental processes is the private operation of the mind such as perception and attention. ( so the way we retrieve and store information in order to guide our behaviour. Due to these processes being within our mind psychologist cannot directly observe this , therefore it is indirectly observed ( so they look at a persons behaviour and make inferences about their internal mental process
What is inference ?
Inference is making assumptions about someone’s internal mental processes by looking at behaviour.
Research for inference (George Miller - STM)
George Miller wanted to see how much information is stored in short-term memory
He gave participants series of numbers to remember and then tested them
He found that most participants could recall between 7+/2 words. This means we can infer that the STM has a limited capacity.
What is a theoretical model
A theoretical model is a visual representation of how internal mental process works this is by distinct steps and example of this- The Multi store Model
What are computer models?
The cognitive approach use computer models to make inferences about the internal mental process.
This is where the mind is compared to a computer, suggesting that a person processes information the same way a computer does – Input, Processing and Output.
What is a schema?
= A schema is s a building block of knowledge about something using experiences.
They act as a framework of how to act in certain situations.
They help us to know how to interpret information when there is gaps.
