Definitions

Question 1

What is the Cognitive Angle?

Answer 1

Concerned with the internal processes of the mind as a way of explaining human behaviour.

Question 2

What is Information Processing?

Answer 2

Input, Processing, Output

Question 3

What is the Computer Analogy?

Answer 3

Computer = Mind

Used as an analogy to understand the mind

Question 4

What is the difference between a computer and the human mind?

Answer 4

Humans are slower for searching for information

We are better at using mental shortcuts to locate information

Question 5

Memory

Answer 5

The processes by which we store and retrieve information

Question 6

Forgetting

Answer 6

If we fail to encode, store or retrieve information, forgetting will occur

Question 7

Encoding

Answer 7

The process of transforming sensory information into a memory trace

Question 8

Storage

Answer 8

Sensory Storage –> Short Term –> Long Term

Retaining/Maintaining information in STM or LTM

Question 9

Retrieval

Answer 9

Locating and Extracting stored memories for use

Question 10

What does the computer analogy handle?

Answer 10

Information

Question 11

In the computer analogy where is the information input from?

Answer 11

The senses

Question 12

In the computer analogy what is the information in the form of?

Answer 12

Memory and Language

Question 13

In the computer analogy what is the output in the form of?

Answer 13

Decision Making, Speech and Action

Question 14

What is a lab experiment?

Answer 14

Conducted under highly controlled conditions

Question 15

Advantages of lab experiment? List 2

Answer 15

• Precise control of variables

- High reliability - Can be easily replicated

Question 16

What is the purpose of control over variables?

Answer 16

To isolate the one key variable (the IV), in order to observe it’s effect on the DV.

Question 17

What is control intending to allow the researcher to conclude?

Answer 17

That it is the IV and nothing else which is influencing the DV.

Question 18

Disadvantages of lab experiment? List 4

Answer 18

• Demand characteristics could be present
• Low ecological validity, so difficult to generalise findings
• Not always possible to control all variables - May be variable the experimenter is unaware of
• Ethical Issues - experiments often involve deceiving the participants to some extent

Question 19

Disadvantages of lab experiment? List 4

Answer 19

• Demand characteristics could be present
• Low ecological validity, so difficult to generalise findings
• Not always possible to control all variables - May be variable the experimenter is unaware of
• Ethical Issues - experiments often involve deceiving the participants to some extent

Question 20

What it ecological validity?

Answer 20

How true to life it is

Question 21

What is IV?

Answer 21

The thing you change

Question 22

What is DV?

Answer 22

The thing you measure

Question 23

What is extraneous variable?

Answer 23

The thing that can’t be controlled, but could affect results

Question 24

Advantages of lab experiment? List 2

Answer 24

• Experimental Control

- High reliability - Can be easily replicated

Question 25

What is an extraneous variable?

Answer 25

The thing that can't be controlled, but could affect results

Question 26

What is a field experiment?

Answer 26

Conducted in a real world situation. | Participants are usually unaware that they are in an experiment.

Question 27

Advantages of a field experiment? List 2

Answer 27

- Usually high in ecological validity | - Avoids demand characteristics/socially desirable behaviour as participant is unaware of the experiment

Question 28

Disadvantages of field experiment? List 3

Answer 28

- Hard to achieve experimental control - Usually time consuming and expensive to conduct - Ethical Issues - No consent/debrief to participant

Question 29

What is experimental control?

Answer 29

Precise control of variables

Question 30

What is another way of saying natural experiment?

Answer 30

Quasi experiment

Question 31

What is a natural experiment?

Answer 31

Conducted in the everyday environment of the participants. | The experimenter has no control over the IV as it occurs naturally in real life.

Question 32

Disadvantages of field experiment? List 3

Answer 32

- Hard to achieve experimental control - Usually time consuming and expensive to conduct - Ethical Issues - No consent/debrief to participant

Question 33

Advantages of natural experiment? List 3

Answer 33

- High ecological validity - Low demand characteristics - Participants don't know that they are being studied - Can be used in situations where it would be ethically unacceptable to manipulate the IV e.g. researching stress

Question 34

Disadvantages of natural experiment? List 4

Answer 34

- No control over EV that might bias the results. - Hard to replicate - No control over IV - Unethical as participants don't know they are being observed (no consent).