Cognitive Approach - EVALUATIONS

Question 1

Name one strength of the cognitive approach

Answer 1

Scientific

Question 2

Give an explanation to support this

Answer 2

Scientific methods - investigate human behaviour - findings not subjective

Question 3

Give evidence to support this further

Answer 3

Evident in the role of neuroscience - played in cognitive psychology - focus on brain scanning techniques

Question 4

Give a conclusion for your point

Answer 4

Findings based on far more then the introspection of Wundt’s early psychology - therefore the result is reliable of these studies

Question 5

Name one strength of the cognitive approach

Answer 5

Interactionist stance on the nature-nurture debate

Question 6

Give evidence to support this

Answer 6

E.g argues individuals develop schemas based on interactions with the world - also use neuroscience to examine which parts of the brain are involved in different mental processes

Question 7

Give an explanation to support this further

Answer 7

Considers role of nurture - environment influences our cognition through schema but also nature - structure of the brain

Question 8

Give a conclusion for your point

Answer 8

Therefore this is a strength because this approach considers both sides of debate to form more complete understanding of human behaviour

Question 9

Name one criticism of the cognitive approach

Answer 9

Lack of ecological validity

Question 10

Give an explanation to support this

Answer 10

The studies chosen - many had little in common with participants everyday experience

Question 11

Give evidence to support this further

Answer 11

E.g experiments in memory use artificial test materials which are meaningless in every day life (e.g random word lists or digits)

Question 12

Give a conclusion for your point

Answer 12

Therefore much research lacks ecological validity because it fails to reflect real-life behaviour

Question 13

Name one criticism of the cognitive approach

Answer 13

Mechanic reductionism - as the cognitive approach assumes the human brain is like a computer & can therefore be explained in the same way

Question 14

Give evidence to support this

Answer 14

Humans are different from computers in many ways e.g experience emotions

Question 15

Give an explanation to support this further

Answer 15

So it is a reductionist because it attempts to explain behaviour through computer processes & theoretical models which fails to consider limitations

Question 16

Give a conclusion for your point

Answer 16

Reductionism is trying to explain behaviour by breaking it into simpler component parts e.g computer processes this is why it is a machine reductionism

Question 17

BOTH - STRENGTH & CRITICISM——PEELC

Answer 17

BOTH - STRENGTH & CRITICISM——PEELC

Question 18

P

Answer 18

cognitive approach adopts a soft determinism view on behaviour

Question 19

E

Answer 19

approach believe goals of an individuals behaviour are determined but individuals free to choose how they reach this goal

Question 20

E

Answer 20

e.g individuals goal of memorising info for a test may be determined - however how this individual achieves this goal is freely chosen

Question 21

L

Answer 21

Individuals has some free will - strength - considers affects this may have on individuals behaviour

Question 22

C

Answer 22

However approach still deterministic - so it’s a limitation of the approach as it does not consider how this fully influences an individuals behaviour