Lesson 5 - The Cognitive Approach

Question 1

Inferences

Answer 1

• Cognitive psychologists investigate internal mental processes in lab or field experiments
• You cannot directly observe mental processes so assumptions are made
• Results are inferred from data

Question 2

Information processing model

Answer 2

Input ——- Processing ——— Output

Question 3

Schemas

Answer 3

• Packets of information that help us digest large amounts of information, developed through experience and expectations of what a situation will hold
• ‘Shortcuts’
• However, schemas mean we leave out information that do not conform to our expectation of the situation

Question 4

Role Schemas

Answer 4

Schemas about behaviours expected from a particular role, like a police officer or librarian

Question 5

Event schemas

Answer 5

A schema about what to expect from an event, like a party

Question 6

Strengths of the cognitive approach

Answer 6

• It has many applications in different areas of psychology. It can show us how people form impressions of others and it also helps explain the development of negative thinking and phobias
• There are high levels of control in these experiments as they are carried out in a lab setting. Cause and effect could be established and it makes results more objective and scientific
• Aided the development of cognitive neuroscience as a field of study. It studies the brain structure and mental processes.
• It has led to the development of treatments like cognitive behavioural therapy

Question 7

Weaknesses of the cognitive approach

Answer 7

• The cognitive approach ignores some aspects like biology. It focuses solely on internal mental processes
• You still need to make inferences as you cannot directly observe the brains mental processes. It is arguable whether psychologists can truly explain phenomena with inferences alone

Question 8

Bartlett (1932)

Answer 8

• Conducted in a lab setting
• English participants were asked to read a Native American folk tale called ‘The War of the Ghosts’
• It was very strange and unfamiliar to a westerner
• The participants were asked to read the story and at different lengths they were asked to to recall the story
• All English participants changed the story to fit their own expectations and schemas
• Details of ghosts were left out, ‘canoes’ were changed to ‘cars’, ‘bows and arrows’ were changed to ‘guns’
• Came to the conclusion that schemas are used to digest large pieces of info

Question 9

Strengths of Bartlett (1932)

Answer 9

• Conducted in a lab setting, strong control over variables. Highly reliable results, repeatable
• Confirms how important schemas are when investigating internal mental processes. When people have to recall information for eye witness testimony, schemas could have implications as this could distort their memory.

Question 10

Weaknesses of Bartlett (1932)

Answer 10

• Demand characteristics may have had an effect on the results, as the participants may have guessed the aim of the study and changed their answers accordingly.
• Biased sample, only used English participants. Lacks population validity, does not give a holistic view of different cultures and schemas