Information-Processing Theory

Question 1

What analogy is the main assumption of the theory?

Answer 1

The analogy of the mind as a computer.

Question 2

According to the theory what is the hardware and what is the software?

Answer 2

Hardware is the brain and the nervous system, the software is mental rules and strategies.

Question 3

Information-processing is not a single theory. What is it?

Answer 3

A framework charecterizing a large number of research programs.

Question 4

What are the three parts of the multistore model (Atkinson & Shiffrin)?

Answer 4

Sensory register, Short term memory, Long term memory.

Question 5

What are the executive control processes?

Answer 5

Attention regulation, selection of appropriate problem-solving strategies, monitor quality of tentative answers and solutions.

Question 6

What is metacognition?

Answer 6

Knowledge of one’s cognitive abilities and processes related to thinking.

Question 7

What is observed in task analysis?

Answer 7

Information available in the task setting
The limits of the child’s processing capacity
The goals of the task
The child’s processing skills

Question 8

Behavior applied for solving a task can be domain-___________ if it is applied to one field and domain-____________ if it is applied to many different tasks.

Answer 8

specific, general

Question 9

Task analysis can show investigators if a behavior is applied because it is _________ for solving a task, or because of lack of adequate ___________________ abilities.

Answer 9

necessary, information-processing

Question 10

What information-processing investigators study? Five factors.

Answer 10

Memory, attention, text comprehension, language, problem solving.

Question 11

What factors affect differences in speed of processing. Three factors.

Answer 11

Age, IQ, quality of reading.

Question 12

Name three specific methodologies used in information-processing experiments.

Answer 12

Rule assesment & error analysis, seriation task, computer simulations.

Question 13

What are the 4 major developmental approaches?

Answer 13

Memory, representations, problem solving, intelligence.

Question 14

What are three steps related to memory according to information-processing theory?

Answer 14

Encoding, storage, retrieval

Question 15

What is the youngest age of a child we have evidence for ability for encoding, storage and retrieval?

Answer 15

3 months old babies.

Question 16

What are two types of reminder for retrieving a memory. Which one is more effective?

Answer 16

Reactivation and reinstatement. Reinstatment
(active reminder) has more prolonged effects.

Question 17

What is chunking?

Answer 17

Is combining similar elements in one group in the short term memory, so more things can be stored.

Question 18

What is cued recall?

Answer 18

It is recalling something after being provided with a hint, as opposed to free recall, where it should happen without a hint.

Question 19

How knowledge affects memory?

Answer 19

Knowledge helps recalling and memorising.

Question 20

What is recognition and what is recalling? Which one is easier for children?

Answer 20

Recognition is knowing that you have seen/heard/sensed something without remembering where from. Recalling is being able to explicitly state a memory. Recognition is easier.

Question 21

When are the first memories formed?

Answer 21

Most people are able to recall early memories at about 3-4 years of age.

Question 22

What is infantile amnesia? What are possible reasons for it?

Answer 22

Difficulty of storing early memories. Possible reasons are lack of aquired language and lack of sense of self.

Question 23

Please recall 5 strenghts of information-processing theory.

Answer 23

Describes cognitive processes.
Allows replication.
Control of confounding variables.
Simulations generate hypotheses that can’t be generated in another way.
Reasonable description of how cognitive processes change with age.

Question 24

Please recall four weaknesses of Information-Processing Theory.

Answer 24

Ignores evolutionary/neurological influences.
Little attention to social/cultural influences.
Not a comprehensive theory - analyses the parts.
Underestimates richness/diversity in cognition.

Question 25

Behavior applied for solving a task can be domain-___________ if it is applied to one field and domain-____________ if it is applied to many different tasks.

Answer 25

specific, general