cognitive approach

Question 1

explain one reason why using schema might be useful and one reason why it might not be useful, when processing information from
the world around us (4)

Answer 1

useful - schemas enable us to process lots of information quickly, allowing us to think quickly and have rapid reactions.
not useful - schemas can lead to biases as they enable us to make a quick, but inaccurate judgement, therefore limits scientific credibility.

Question 2

give two assumptions of the cognitive approach (4)

Answer 2

• mental processes can be regarded as information processing.
• mental processes can be studied scientifically.

Question 3

explain what is meant by inference.

Answer 3

going beyond the immediate evidence to make assumptions about mental processes that cannot be directly observed.

Question 4

write a brief explanation of ‘inference’ that would help Adil to understand what his teacher means.

Answer 4

making assumptions about mental processes that cannot be directly observed.

Question 5

outline two features of the cognitive approach - explain two limitations of the cognitive approach (8)

Answer 5

AO1 = 4 and AO3 = 4
features - mental processes can be regarded as information processing and be compared with a computer, cognition and biological processes can be put together and lead to cognitive neuroscience as a way of understanding human behaviour.
limitations - ignores emotion and motivation/ based on machine reductionism, computers don’t make mistakes or have emotions whereas humans do, and it doesn’t tell us why different cognitive processes take place, which means it oversimplifies human cognitive processing.

Question 6

explain one way in which social learning theory overlaps with one other approach in psychology.

Answer 6

through the assumptions of the behaviourist approach as they both emphasise the importance of environment and reinforcement in learning.