Chapter 9 - Cognitive Development (2)

Question 1

What is the multistore model?

Answer 1

working memory is in the centre

input -> sensory memory
sensory memory —(attention)—> working memory

long-term memory –(retrieval)–> working memory
working memory —(storage)—-> long-term memory

executive control processes –> working memory, STM, and LTM

working memory –> responses

Question 2

What are executive function/control?

Answer 2

planning and executing strategies on information

manager of the brain

frontal lobe functions

Question 3

What is working memory?

Answer 3

temporary information storage

executes operations on info

aka short-term store

peaks at 6-8

Question 4

What is long term memory?

Answer 4

relatively permanent store of info and knowledge

Question 5

What is attention?

Answer 5

the process of selecting stimuli to detect or work on

Question 6

What is inhibitory control?

Answer 6

intentionally not attending to information

Question 7

What is set shifting?

Answer 7

changing from one strategy to another

Question 8

What is a strategy?

Answer 8

deliberate mental operation

facilitates task performance

goal-directed

Question 9

What are 3 important memory strategies?

Answer 9

rehearsal

• repetition over and over
• ability changes with age

organization
- semantically organized lists (by meaning)

elaboration
- adding information or creating meaningful links between pieces of information

Question 10

What is metacognition?

Answer 10

knowledge of one’s own cognitive abiltiies

Question 11

What is metamemory?

Answer 11

knowledge of ones own memory

Question 12

How does attention change with age?

Answer 12

increased duration

myelinization of CNS increases attention span

Question 13

What factors contribute to planful and selective strategy use?

Answer 13

attention + metamemory + strategies

improve ability to concentrate on relevant stimuli and ignore other “noise”

Question 14

How do our number/arithmetic skills progress?

Answer 14

counting out loud
counting on fingers
counting silently in head

learn by practice

Question 15

What is connectionism?

Answer 15

aim to replace neural activity in the brain with a computer program to gain better understanding

act the way you think a child would act, test hypotheses to see how children learn

network of processing units (neurons) and connections (synapses)

processing is:

• parallel (several at once)
• distributed (across the brain)

Question 16

In the analogy of the mind to a computer, what is the hardware and what is the software?

Answer 16

hardware = information processing capacity

software = strategies

• rehearsal, semantic organization, elaboration
• influenced by how many cognitive resources are needed and children’s own metacognition

Question 17

What is Siegler’s Adaptive strategy choice model?

Answer 17

children have been found to use multiple/variable strategies in problem solving

Question 18

What is production deficiency?

Answer 18

when children fail to produce strategy spontaneously but can do so when instructed

Question 19

What is utilization deficiency?

Answer 19

when children experience little-no benefit when using a new strategy

Question 20

How does event memory differ based on culture?

Answer 20

individualist cultures:
- recall own perspective and info related to the self

collectivist cultures:
- retrieve more social aspects of the event

Question 21

When does autobiographical memory drastically improve? What helps it do so?

Answer 21

during preschool years

parents play key role by discussing past events and helping them recall important info

Question 22

What are the issues with using children as eye-witnesses? How do we maximize the accuracy of their statements?

Answer 22

accuracy increases with age

more susceptible to suggestion, likely to form false memories after repeated suggestion

maximize completeness with open ended questions building off of cues they provide

Question 23

What accounts for the cultural variation in children’s arithmetic skills?

Answer 23

different practices that help them retrieve math facts and acquire other math skills