Cognitive Approach Flashcards
What is the assumption of the cognitive area?
Human behaviour can be explained through a set of scientific processes such as:
•input
•processing
•output (response)
Behaviour is controlled by our own thought processes
Explain how Moray can be located within the cognitive area:
Moray//attention
(It investigated selective attention)
1) we have an in-attentional barrier
2) the barrier cannot be broken without an affective-cue
3) an affective-cue consists of ones name
4) the affective-cue is the input
5) the process is to switch their attention
6) the output is to shadow the rejected message
Explain how Loftus and Palmer can be located within the cognitive area:
Loftus and Palmer//subsequent info and leading questions
(It investigated the effect of language on memory)
Experiment 1:
1) (critical question) was the input
2) process of the specific verb causes the ppt to think they saw a faster or slower car crash
3) the output was the estimated speed average according to the verb condition they were in
Experiment 2:
1) input was the subsequent information of the leading question
2) subsequent information is processed along with what they estimated in the first condition
3) an estimated speed is the output response according to subsequent information
Name some strengths of the cognitive approach :
1) helps understand human behaviour and how it is affected by the way we think and how the brain processes incoming sensory information
2) research can be extremely useful for having real life implications
3) cognitive approach uses laboratory experiments which means researchers can establish cause and effect and it favours a scientific methodology giving it high academic credibility
4) studies are highly replicable because of standardised procedures so scientific value of studies can be increased
Name some weaknesses of the cognitive approach:
1) findings from study may not be valid if it lacks ecological validity
2) data can only be gathered by inference (self-report) (observation) (MRI-scans)
3) participants are more likely to respond to demand characteristics
What are the classical studies of the cognitive approach?
1) Moray // auditory attention
2) Loftus and Palmer // eye witness testimony
What are the contemporary studies in the cognitive approach?
1) Simons and Chabris // visual inattention
2) Grant et al. // context dependent memory
What is the computer analogy?
1) input - through one of the sense (e.g. eyes or ears)
2) processing - this occurs using currently installed software (previous experience and knowledge)
3 response - which may be action or chosen inaction
How does the cognitive area explain behaviour?
Behaviour can be explained through the input, process and output of a stimuli.
The cognitive approach says that our behaviour is determined by how we process information and what actions or inactions we produce as a response.
Explain how Grant et al. can be placed in the cognitive area:
Grant et al// context dependency
(It investigated context-dependent memory effects on both recall and recognition)
1) input was was the two-page article on psychoimmunology and the noisy or silent condition which they were tested in and revised in
2) process was whether they remembered newly learned meaningful material or not due to the condition they were in
3) output was the score on recall and recognition tests
You are more likely to remember new meaningful material when revised and tested in the same environment
Explain how Simons and Chabris is within the cognitive area:
Simons and Chabris // inattentional blindness
(The aim was to confirm that inattentional blindness occurs in a realistic, complex situation)
1) input was the opaque or transparent video of black and white teams with an unexpected event
2) the unexpected was processed or not processed depending on focus of attention
3) output was their answers to the questions about the unexpected event
