Cognitive Psychology

• What is cognition?

  The mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and senses.
• What are the main areas studied in cognitive psychology?

  Attention, decision making/problem solving, language, memory, perception, and thinking.
• What is a cognitive assumption regarding the brain?

  The brain is an information processor.
• How does cognition influence behavior according to cognitive assumptions?

  Our cognition can influence behavior.
• What are the key types of memory?

  Implicit memory, explicit memory, semantic memory, episodic memory, procedural memory, and facial recognition.
• What is semantic memory?

  Factual knowledge that you have.
• What is episodic memory?

  Autobiographical memories.
• What is procedural memory?

  Memories of how to do something.
• Who proposed the multi-store model of memory?

  Atkinson and Shiffrin in 1968.
• What does the multi-store model of memory consist of?

  Stores limited information for a little longer, stores information for a very long period, and holds incoming information for brief periods.
• What is rehearsal in the context of memory?

  It is a process that increases the amount of time stimuli are available to us.
• What is the duration of sensory memory?

  Visual and auditory information for about 50 ms to 0.5 s.
• What is Miller's magic number in short-term memory?

  About 7 pieces or chunks of information (+-2).
• What is the role of the central executive in the working memory model?

  It controls attention and processes information from different subsystems.
• What are the components of the phonological loop?

  The primary acoustic store and the articulatory control process.
• What is the function of the episodic buffer in the working memory model?

  It acts as a general store providing access to long-term memory.
• What does the schema theory propose?

  A schema is a mental structure that organizes and interprets information based on past experiences.
• How do schemas affect cognitive processes?

  They influence how new information is integrated with existing knowledge.
• What is reconstructive memory?

  It is the process where the brain collects and reconstructs data during recall.
• What is the difference between accommodation and assimilation in schema theory?

  Accommodation replaces an existing schema, while assimilation adds information to an existing schema.
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of the working memory model (WMM)?

  Strengths:

  • Explains cognitive processes in detail.
  • Accounts for different types of information processing.

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Limited capacity of the central executive.
  • Does not explain memory distortion or the role of emotion.
• What is the hypothesis regarding longer words in the phonological loop experiment?

  Longer words will lead to lower recall accuracy due to the phonological loop's limited capacity.
• What is the hypothesis regarding phonologically similar words in the phonological loop experiment?

  Phonologically similar words will be harder to recall than phonologically distinct words.
• What was the sample size and type for the phonological loop experiment?

  60 undergraduate students using an opportunity sample.
• What is the procedure for the phonological loop experiment?

  Participants listen to word lists and write down as many words as they remember after each list.
• What is the purpose of counterbalancing in the phonological loop experiment?

  To control for order effects in the presentation of word lists.
• What are the criteria for a good theory or model in psychology?

  • Testable
  • Empirically supported
  • Applicable
  • Construct validity
  • Unbiased
  • Predicts behavior
• How does the multi-store model of memory relate to the working memory model?

  The multi-store model provides a framework for understanding memory, while the working memory model offers a more detailed explanation of short-term memory processes.
• What are the limitations of the schema theory?

  • Cannot be directly measured.
  • More focused on predicting behavior than providing empirical data.
  • Abstract concept that lacks concrete definitions.
• How do schemas assist in memory recall?

  • Organize knowledge.
  • Guide behavior.
  • Predict likely happenings.
  • Help make sense of current experiences.
• What is the role of schemas in cognitive processing?

  • Active processors of information.
  • Integrate new information with existing knowledge.
  • Influence outcomes of information processing.
• What are the key components of the working memory model?

  • Central executive
  • Visuo-spatial sketchpad
  • Phonological loop
  • Episodic buffer
• What is cognition?

  The mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and senses.
• What does cognitive psychology study?

  Cognitive psychology studies attention, decision making, problem solving, language, memory, perception, and thinking.
• What are cognitive assumptions?

  Cognitive assumptions include that brains are information processors, we do as little thinking as possible, and our cognition can influence behavior.
• What are the key types of memory according to cognitive psychology?

  • Implicit (non-declarable) memory
  • Explicit (declarable) memory
  • Semantic memory (factual knowledge)
  • Episodic memory (autobiographical memories)
  • Procedural memory (how to do something)
  • Facial recognition (recalling and recognizing faces)
• Who proposed the Multi-Store Model of memory?

  The Multi-Store Model of memory was proposed by Atkinson and Shiffrin in 1968.
• What are the three main types of memory in the Multi-Store Model?

  1. Sensory Memory
  2. Short Term Memory
  3. Long Term Memory
• What is the duration of sensory memory?

  Sensory memory holds information for about 50 milliseconds.
• What is Miller's magic number in relation to short-term memory capacity?

  Miller's magic number suggests that short-term memory can hold around 7 pieces or chunks of information (+-2).