Cognitive processing in a technological (Digital/modern) world Flashcards
How is digital technology thought to affect cognitive processes?
Digital technology can have both positive and negative effects, enhancing some cognitive skills (e.g. attention, decision-making) while potentially reducing attention spans and analytical thinking.
What is the “Google Effect”?
A term used to describe the tendency to forget information that can be easily found online, since we rely on external sources like search engines as memory aids.
Q: What does the term “digital amnesia” refer to?
Coined by Kaspersky Lab, it describes the inability to recall information because people rely on digital devices to store it.
What was the aim of Sparrow et al. (2011)?
To investigate how the use of search engines and the expectation of information being saved affects memory recall.
What was Sparrow et al.’s key finding in their first experiment?
Participants who thought information would be lost remembered more, suggesting that expecting to not have access later increases memory effort.
What did Sparrow et al. (2011) find when the computer gave different feedback (e.g., saved, erased, saved to folder)?
Participants remembered where information was saved better than the information itself, showing a reliance on external memory sources.
What is the overall conclusion of Sparrow et al. (2011)?
Memory is adapting to digital technology; knowing where to find information can be as valuable as remembering the information itself, especially for promoting higher-order thinking.
What are some positive cognitive effects associated with video gaming?
improved visual memory, attention, decision-making, spatial skills, mental rotation, and task-switching.
What are the criticisms against video games in psychology research?
Claims include increased aggression, social isolation, antisocial behavior, poor academic performance, and negative health effects.
What is Visual Working Memory (VWM)?
The ability to temporarily store and manipulate visual information, important for navigating and interacting with the visual world. Its capacity is limited.
