cognitive approach

Question 1

what are the 2 models used in the cognitive approach?

Answer 1

theoretical models
computer models

Question 2

what is a theoretical model?

Answer 2

simplified way of representing a particular mental process based on current research evidence
eg. pictural, using boxes and arrows.

Question 3

what is the computer model?

Answer 3

a way of showing how human cognition is like a computer.
we input information through our senses, info is then encoded into our memory and then combined with previously stored info to complete an action.

Question 4

what are schemas?

Answer 4

a cognitive structure (internal mental representation) that helps us make sense of the world.
eg gender schemas, negative self schema for those with depression.

Question 5

what happens to schemas the more we experience the world?

Answer 5

they become more complex

Question 6

what are models based on?

Answer 6

research

Question 7

what was the research that Murdock conducted in 1962?

Answer 7

-gave participants lists that ranged in sizes of words (10-40 words)
-lists were presented at 2 second intervals.
-when participants were asked to recall words in any order from the list they mainly said words from the start and end of the list
-this is because the words from the beginning had already gone into the long term memory while the words at the end remained in the short term memory.
-this showed that long and short term memory have 2 separate stores and so influenced by development of the multistore memory.

Question 8

what are dual process tasks?

Answer 8

when psychologists give participants 2 tasks to do at the same time.
it gives psychologists insight into how the brain processes information if they are unable to do it.

Question 9

what are the strengths of the cognitive approach?

Answer 9

-scientific research
-gives a better account of the internal processes that shape behaviour
-many practical applications

Question 10

what are the negatives of the cognitive approach?

Answer 10

-controlled lab experiments are artificial and may not represent the way processing occurs in real life situations
-computer model does not take emotions into account
-does not take biology into account (although it does more now as we have cognitive neuroscience