Cognitive Approach

Question 1

Assumptions of the cognitive approach

Answer 1

1. Internal mental processes can and should be studied scientifically.
2. Cognitive psychologists can investigate areas of behaviour neglected by behaviourists.
3. Look at private processes, study them indirectly by making inferences about what’s going on inside the mind on the basis of behaviour.

Question 2

What is an inference?

Answer 2

An assumption about mental processes.

Question 3

What do theoretical and computer models help us explain?

Answer 3

Human behaviour and help us make inferences about mental processes

Question 4

What do theoretical models help us study?

Answer 4

Internal processes

Question 5

What is an important theoretical model?

Answer 5

Information processing approach which suggests that information flows through the cognitive system in a sequence of stages:
Input - storage - retrieval

Question 6

What is the similarity between a computer and our minds?

Answer 6

The way info is processed

Question 7

What concepts do the computer model use?

Answer 7

Central processing unit - the brain
Concept of coding - turn into a useable format
‘Stores’ - hold info

Question 8

What have computer models proved useful in developing?

Answer 8

AI

Question 9

What is a schema?

Answer 9

A mental framework of beliefs and expectations that influence cognitive processing

Question 10

How are schemas developed?

Answer 10

From experience

Question 11

What do schemas help us do?

Answer 11

Respond to stimuli appropriately

Question 12

How can we use schemas?

Answer 12

As mental shortcuts

Question 13

What is an example of a schema a baby is born with?

Answer 13

Grasping

Question 14

What happens to schemas as we get older?

Answer 14

They become more detailed and sophisticated

Question 15

How can schemas be unhelpful?

Answer 15

Distorting our interpretations of sensory information which can lead to perceptual errors or faulty conclusions

Question 16

Bugelski and Alampay?

Answer 16

• two groups were shown a sequence of pictures which were either a number of different faces or a number of different animals - ‘rat man.’
• participants saw a sequence of faces were likely to perceive the figure as a man whereas participants who saw animals were more likely to perceive a man

Question 17

What is cognitive neuroscience?

Answer 17

The influence of brain structures on mental processes combining biological and cognitive approaches

Question 18

1860s Broca

Answer 18

Identified how damage to an area of the frontal lobe could permanently damage speech production

Question 19

Past 20 years

Answer 19

FMRI and PET scans - scientists can systematically observe and describe neurological basis of mental processes

Question 20

Bartlett - the war of the ghosts

Answer 20

Method: English ppts asked to read a Native American folk tale. Unfamiliar to them and had a different structure to an English story. Ppts were asked to recall the story after different lengths of time.
Results: all ppts changed the story to match their schema - details became more English and the story started to contain English culture and details. As the length of times increased the amount of info decreased.
Conclusion: people use their own schemas to help interpret and remember the world around them.

Question 21

Evaluation of the cognitive approach: strengths

Answer 21

1. Uses scientific and objective methods - use of lab experiments produces reliable and objective data - highly controlled and high internal validity
2. Cognitive neuroscience - enabled two fields of biology and cognitive psychology to come together - ecological validity = concepts can be applied to real life
3. Less determinist than other approaches - soft determinism - recognises our cognitive system can only operate within limits of what we know

Question 22

Cognitive approach evaluation: limitations

Answer 22

1. Fails at application to real life - can only infer mental processes from observable behaviour - lacks external validity