Disadvantages

• Lab study


  Artificial task - Jacobs digit span task not how we use memory irl.

  Lacks ecological validity.
• Case study


  E.g. Patient HM, difficult to generalise results to wider population as these rare cases.
• Cognitive approach based on making inferences so can become too abstract and theoretical in nature as not direct observation.
• Machine reductionist


  Computer analogy critiscised as ignores influence of emotion and motivation on cognitive systems.

  E.g. anxiety affects EWT

  Weakens validity of approach.
• Reductionist


  Explain behaviour by breaking it down into simplest parts.