cognitive

Question 1

how are the two studies similar

Answer 1

both used lab experiments

both used undergraduate student samples from america

both gathered quantitative data

both are lab experiments, so lack ecological validity

both are useful in policing

both use independent measures

both are highly standardised and therefore easy to replicate

Question 2

how do the two studies differ

Answer 2

different in sample size- 195 for loftus and palmer vs 39 for grant

loftus gathered qualitative data as well as quantitiative data

grant is higher in ecological validity- doing a test on a studied topic is typical student behaviour

grants study is useful in education as well as policing

Question 3

whats good about the cognitive approach

Answer 3

favours the use of controllec experiments, enabling vause and effect to be established as extraneous variables are reduced

useful as many applications have arisen from understanding mental processes e.g within policing procedures and training

Question 4

whats bad about the cognitive approach

Answer 4

many studies are carried out in lab settings so they can lack ecological validity. when cognitive processes such as memory are studied in artificial situations, it may be difficult to generalise findings

thought processes cannot be physically seen so the approach is not falsifiable, making it less scientific

Question 5

to what extent does the contemporary study build on our understanding

Answer 5

adds the idea that contexts matching can enhance our memory, building on loftus and palmers idea of leading questions that can disrupt memory- context reinstatement in police interviews

however we already knew about the untrustworthy nature of memory from past research and how vulnerable it is to change and does this in similar ways e.g lab based with students so doesnt tell us about memory outside of this