Cognitive Exam Booklet

Question 1

What does it mean when

KNOWLEDGE OF THE PHYSICAL WORLD

Answer 1

Core knowledge theory

Question 2

What studies are named?

Answer 2

Sally-Anne study

Question 3

What is egocentrism?

Answer 3

The inability to understand things from different point of view

Question 4

What is violation of expectation?

Answer 4

A Method of conducting research with infants using their surprise as a measure of whether what they see is not what they expect to see. Thus we know what their expectations are.

e.g tall/short carrot study

Question 5

Explain two limitations of ToM as an explanation of autism

Answer 5

• An evidence of this is in Baron-research of the ‘Sally-Anne test’ only used British people. Therefore only focused on a Western perspective
• Therefore these findings of the study cannot be generalised to non-western cultures in order to be used as an explanation of autism
• To improve the accuracy of ToM’s explanation you would need multi-cultural data to analyse this and be representative to wider populations
• It is suggested that many methods used to study ToM (including Sally-Anne task) could actually be measures of perspective taking

In addition , Rehfeldt et al (2007) suggest perspective taking tasks can be also used to distinguish between ASD children and others

If ToM is basically the same perspective taking then concept lacks any usefulness

Question 6

Briefly outline theory of mind as an explanation for autism.

Answer 6

1 mark – autism results from very specific form of impaired cognitive functioning or mindblindness

1 mark – lacking a theory of mind means people with autism cannot understand/appreciate the mental states of others

Question 7

Katie is three years old and likes to play with her toy medical kit

Her mother plays with her

Katie’s mother helps to bandage doll legs and talks through stages

Answer 7

• Scafollding is when MKO provide help to increase ZPD through social interaction
• Provide support while tying bandage to doll leg as Katie is unable to complete this without scaffolding/assistance
• Katie’s mother may provide instructions to eventually be able to complete Katie to do the bandaging alone

Question 8

Which two have the development of social cognition

Answer 8

• Mirror neurones
• Theory of mind