Cognitive Psychology Chapter I (13-End) Flashcards
What is a theory?
A theory is a structured body of explanatory principles regarding a phenomenon, usually based on observations.
Testing and examining the predictive power of theories generates …
… hypotheses.
Six categories of methods used in cognitive psychology:
- case studies
- computational modeling and AI
- controlled lab experiments
- naturalistic observations
- psychobiological research
- self-reports
Description of controlled lab experiments
obtain samples of performance at a particular time and place
Description of psychobiological research
study animal brains and human brains, using postmortem studies and various psychobiological measures or imaging techniques
Description of self-reports
obtain participants’ reports of own cognition in progress or as recollected
Description of case studies
engage in intensive study of single individuals, drawing general conclusions about behavior
Description of naturalistic observations
observe real-life situations, as in classrooms, work settings, or homes
Description of computational modeling and AI
simulation: simulate human cognition
AI: make computers demonstrate intelligent cognitive performance
Two examples for case studies and when they happened:
Phineas Gage 1848 (metal spike through brain)
Genie (locked in a room for her first 13 years)
Seven key issues and fields in Cognitive Psychology:
- applied vs basic research
- biological vs behavioral methods
- domain generality vs. domain specificity
- ecological validity vs. validity of causal inference
- empiricism vs. rationalism
- nature vs nurture
- structure vs processes
Five major ideas in Cognitive Psychology:
- basic research may lead to applications and applications may lead to basic understandings
- cognition is generally adaptive
- cognitive processes interact with each other
- cognition needs to be studied through a variety of scientific methods
- data needs theory and vice-versa
