Chapter 1 Flashcards
Folk psychology
An umbrella term for various assumptions and theories based on the everyday behaviour of ourselves and others.
Stimulus
An entity in the external environment that can be perceived by an observer.
Bit (Binary digit)
The most basic unit of information. Every event that occurs in a situation with two equally likely outcome provides one bit of information.
Information theory
The theory that the information provided by a particular event is inversely related to the probability of its occurrence. Essentially the less likely it is the more information it conveys. Ex. “How are you…” “I’m doing awful”
Broadbent’s Filter Model
A theory based on the idea that information processing is restricted by channel capacity. Senses (eye, ear) –> Short term memory store –> Filter (selection based on physical characteristics only) –> Selected input for attention
Channel capacity
The maximum amount of information that can be transmitted by an information-processing device.
Introspection
“Looking inward” to observe one’s own thoughts and feelings. William James relied on it for much of his research.
Primary memory
What we are aware of in the “immediately present moment”; often termed “immediate memory” or “short-term memory.” Requires rehearsal (repeating a phone number) to keep information within primary memory
Secondary memory
Knowledge acquired at an earlier time that is stored indefinitely, and is absent from awareness; also called “long-term memory”. Based on Waugh and Norman’s model of information processing.
Brown-Peterson task
An experimental paradigm or model in which subjects are given a set of times and then a number. Subjects immediately begin counting backward by three from the number and, after a specific interval, are asked to recall the original items. Participants ability to recall the original items declined as the number of interfering numbers increased.
Ecological Approach
A form of psychological inquiry that reflects conditions in the real world, not just in a research lab (J.J. Gibson).
Affordances
The potential functions or uses of stimuli (i.e. objects and events) in the real world. Ex. food affords the possibility of eating, stairs afford the possibility of climbing, etc.
Information pickup
The process whereby we perceive information directly. Learning becomes progressively more attuned to what the environment affords us.
Schema
An expectation concerning what we are likely to find as we explore the world (plural schemas or schemata).
Perceptual cycle
The process whereby our schemas guide our exploration of the world and in turn are shaped by what we find there. The cycle continues on and on as our schemas change based on what we find, and then we find new information to continue to correct our schema. (Neisser)
