Information processing

Question 1

Information processing theory

Answer 1

The basic idea of Information processing theory is that the human mind is like a computer or information processor — rather than behaviorist notions that people merely responding to stimuli.

Question 2

Stage theory

Answer 2

Atkinson and Shriffin’s ‘stage theory,’ presenting a sequential method of input-processing-output

Question 3

Level of processing model

Answer 3

Craik and Lockhart issued the ‘level of processing’ model.

The more that information is elaborated on the more that is learnt

Question 4

Connectionist model

Answer 4

• Rumelhart and McClelland’s connectionist model
• States that information is stored simultaneously in different areas of the brain, and connected as a network.
• The amount of connections a single piece of information has will affect the ease of retrieval.

Question 5

Sensory memory

Answer 5

• Information is gathered via the senses through a process called transduction.
• Through receptor cell activity, it is altered into a form of information that the brain could process.
• short memory- ranging up to three seconds.
• Sensory information catches our attention, and thus progresses into working memory, only if it is seen as relevant, or is familiar.

Question 6

WORKING MEMORY/SHORT TERM MEMORY

Answer 6

Baddeley (2001)

• three components
• The executive controls system
• auditory loop
• visual-spatial checkpad
• Information is maintained through maintenance or elaborative rehearsal.

Question 7

Executive controls system

Answer 7

-oversees all working memory activity, including selection of information, method of processing, meaning, and finally deciding whether to transfer it to long term memory or forget it.

Question 8

Auditory loop

Answer 8

-where auditory information is processed

Question 9

Visual-spatial checkpad,

Answer 9

• where visual information is processed. Sensory memories transferred into working memory will last for 15-20 seconds, with a capacity for 5-9 pieces or chunks of information.

Question 10

Maintenance

Answer 10

-repetition

Question 11

Elaboration

Answer 11

refers to the organization of information (such as chunking or chronology).

Question 12

Long term memory

Answer 12

Long term memory includes various types of information:

• declarative (semantic and episodic)
• procedural (how to do something)
• imagery (mental images).

Question 13

Semantic memory (implicit memory)

Answer 13

-general world knowledge that we have accumulated throughout our lives.

Question 14

Explicit memory/declarative memory

Answer 14

-Explicit memory requires conscious thought—such as recalling who came to dinner last night or naming animals that live in the rainforest.

Question 15

Attention

Answer 15

Attention is the behavioral and cognitive process of selectively concentrating on a discrete aspect of information, whether deemed subjective or objective, while ignoring other perceivable information

Question 16

Schizeophrenia and information processing

Answer 16

schizophrenia spectrum patients have problems focusing attention on salient cues and overcoming the disrupting effects of distracting stimuli.

Question 17

Dementia precox

Answer 17

Kraepelin- early diagnostic term of schizophrenia

Question 18

chunking

Answer 18

Chunking is a term referring to the process of taking individual pieces of information (chunks) and grouping them into larger units.
By grouping each piece into a large whole, you can improve the amount of information you can remember.

Question 19

Trace decay theory of forgetting

Answer 19

• memories leave a ‘trace’
• forgetting occurs as a result of the automatic decay or fading of the memory trace.
• short term memory can only hold information for between 15 and 30 seconds unless it is rehearsed. Then the trace decays
• Brown-Peterson

Question 20

Displacement theory

Answer 20

• Miller suggests short term memory can only hold 7+/- 2 items
• When STM is ‘full’, new information displaces or ‘pushes out’ old information and takes its place.
• The old information which is displaced is forgotten

Question 21

Primacy effect

Answer 21

Good recall of items at the beginning of a list is referred to as the primacy effect

Question 22

Regency effect

Answer 22

Good recall of items at the end of a list are referred to as the recency effect.

Question 23

Atkinson & Shiffrin’s (1968) multi-store model

Answer 23

Proposes that information is transferred into long-term memory by means of rehearsal.

Question 24

Interference theory

Answer 24

It was assumed that memory can be disrupted or interfered with by what we have previously learned or by what we will learn in the future.

Question 25

Proactive interference

Answer 25

Occurs when you cannot learn a new task because of an old task that had been learnt.
– where old memories disrupt new memories.

Question 26

Retroactive interference

Answer 26

(retro=backward) occurs when you forget a previously learnt task due to the learning of a new task.
-new memories disrupt old memories.

Question 27

Chandler (1989)

Answer 27

stated that students who study similar subjects at the same time often experience interference.

Question 28

Distortion

Answer 28

-Memory distortion refers to a memory report that differs from what actually occurred. -Memory’s fate is determined by encoding (when the memory is first recorded), storage and retrieval .

Question 29

Interference

Answer 29

Interference occurs in learning when there is an interaction between the new material and transfer effects of past learned behavior, memories or thoughts that have a negative influence in comprehending the new material.

Question 30

Schemata

Answer 30

• Piaget
• A schema can be defined as a set of linked mental representations of the world, which we use both to understand and to respond to situations.

Question 31

Elaboration

Answer 31

Elaboration is a strategy which involves assigning meaningful information to something you are trying to remember, which in turn would make the non-meaningful information easier to remember.