Task 4 - My socks are in the dryer

Question 1

Information Processing Theory is based on the idea that

Answer 1

• humans have limited capacities

- humans can flexibly apply

Question 2

Development of Information Processing

Increase in two broad ares

Answer 2

• capacity
  — memory span
  — attention span
  — processing speed
  strategy use
  — number and efficiency
  — speed

Question 3

Information processing can be divided into the following specific areas

Answer 3

• memory
• attention
• problem solving

Question 4

(Multi)store model of information processing

Answer 4

stimulus input –> sensory register –> attention –> working, or short-term, memory –> storage / retrieval –> long-term memory –> Response generator –> response output

Question 5

Three memory structures

Answer 5

• sensory memory
• short-term or working memory
• long-term memory

Question 6

Sensory memory

Answer 6

• unlimited
• exact copies
• very brief
• decay

Question 7

Short-term or working memory

Answer 7

• active information
• limited capacity
• few bits of information
• decay

Question 8

Long-term memory

Answer 8

• relative long
• unlimited capacity
• not in all -or-none form
• developmental changes

Question 9

Recognition and Recall

Answer 9

Recognition

• stimulus identical or similar
• easier than recall
• retention interval > with age

Question 10

Development of memory strategies (ages)

Answer 10

• rehearsal –> from about 4-5 years
• organization –> from about 6-7 years
• elaboration –> 11-12 years

Question 11

Attention

Answer 11

ability to focus on a particular stimulus without being distracted

Question 12

Types of attention

Answer 12

• sustained attention
• –> stay focused on task increases sharply around 2-3 years
• selective attention
• –> focus on relevant aspect of task
• –> improves strongly between age 6-12

Question 13

(Cognitive) inhibition

Answer 13

ability to control distracting stimuli
- internal: thoughts
- external: distraction
(improves from infancy on)

Question 14

(Response) inhibition

Answer 14

ability to withhold an action
- control behaviour in social situations
(improves from infancy on)

Question 15

Delayed gratification experiment

Answer 15

“Marshmallow experiment”

Question 16

Development of attentional strategies

Answer 16

• production deficiency (3-4 years)
• control deficiency (5-6 years)
• utilization deficiency (7-8 years)
• effective strategy use (9-10 years)

Question 17

Development of Prefrontal cortex

Answer 17

• increased selective attention

- more efficient inhibition

Question 18

Problem solving

Answer 18

moving from a current state to a goal state
a mental process involving
- discovering
- analyzing
- resolving

Question 19

Components of problem solving

Answer 19

• representation
• planning
• strategy choice
• transferring skills

Question 20

Planning

Answer 20

thinking our –> particular goal

• begins in infancy
• improves with age

Question 21

Steps in planning

Answer 21

• postponing action to weigh alternatives
• organizing task materials
• remembering steps of plan
• monitoring how well plan works
• revising if necessary

Question 22

Planning experiment name?

Answer 22

the tower of Hanoi
on a 2 disk version
–> 3 year olds: used one or 2 steps and broke the rules
–> 6 year olds: used 5 to 6 steps, planning 1 or 2 steps ahead

Question 23

Scientific thinking

Answer 23

• theory –> evidence
• improves with age
• contributing factors

Question 24

Executive function

Answer 24

Executive function: the ability to control and coordinate one’s own cognitive processes

Metacognition: awareness and knowledge of own cognitive processes

Question 25

Metacognitive development

Answer 25

• understanding and knowing
• cognitive tasks and cognitive strategies
• development from ages 5 - 10 in all areas

Question 26

Brain and development of problem solving

Answer 26

development of prefrontal, temporal and parietal cortex
- increased content knowledge
- more efficient strategies
metacognitive knowledge

Question 27

Overlapping Waves Theory

Answer 27

Siegler’s model of strategy choice

• try variety of strategies
• observe how well they work
• gradually select those giving the best result

Question 28

Information Processing Theory of cognition

Answer 28

• is dominant model
• continuous development
• advantage:
  break down of components
• but limitations:
  not comprehensive theory
  does not consider other aspects

Question 29

Brain development with respect to information processing

Answer 29

• development of hippocampus, temporal, parietal and prefrontal cortex
• changes in myelinisation
• synaptic pruning