cognitive

• What should be studied scientifically according to cognitive psychology?

  Internal mental processes
• Why can't internal mental processes be directly observed?

  They occur in people's minds
• How are conclusions about mental processes reached?

  Based on evidence and reasoning
• What is a schema in cognitive psychology?

  A package of information developed through experience
• How do schemas function in the brain?

  They act as a mental framework for interpretation
• How do schemas change as we age?

  They become more developed and sophisticated
• What type of schema are babies born with?

  Simple motor schema for innate behaviors
• What advantage do schemas provide in processing information?

  They allow quick processing and prevent overwhelm
• What can schemas lead to in terms of sensory information?

  They can distort interpretations, causing errors
• What are perceptual errors?

  Mistakes in interpreting sensory information
• When do sensory limitations occur?

  When sensory information is unclear or ambiguous
• What do theoretical models help us understand?

  Internal mental processes
• What are the stages in the theoretical model of cognitive processing?

  Input, storage, retrieval
• What does the computer model in cognitive psychology compare?

  Human cognitive processes to computer functions
• What is the purpose of programming a computer in cognitive models?

  To see how instructions produce responses
• What does cognitive neuroscience study?

  The influence of brain structure on mental processes
• What did Broca explain about brain damage?

  It can impair speech production
• How has scanning technology contributed to cognitive neuroscience?

  It describes the neurological basis of mental processing
• What is a strength of the cognitive approach?

  It uses scientific and objective methods
• How does the cognitive approach ensure trustworthy findings?

  By using controlled laboratory experiments
• What has enhanced the cognitive approach?

  The emergence of cognitive neuroscience
• What is a criticism of the cognitive approach?

  It relies on machine reductionism
• What does machine reductionism overlook?

  The complexity of human thought
• How can emotions affect cognition?

  They can influence memory and processing
• What is a limitation of cognitive psychology's research methods?

  They often use artificial stimuli
• Why might cognitive psychology lack external validity?

  It doesn't capture everyday cognitive processes
• What does the artificial nature of cognitive studies limit?

  The practical application of findings
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of the cognitive approach?

  Strengths:

  • Scientific and objective methods
  • Reliable and controlled experiments
  • Integration with cognitive neuroscience

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Machine reductionism oversimplifies thought
  • Limited application to real-life situations
  • Use of artificial stimuli reduces external validity
• • Internal mental processes should be studied scientifically 
  • These cant be directly observed as these are in peoples mind so inferences are made about what happens in peoples mind. Means conclusion is reached on basis of evidence and reasoning 
• Schemas allow us to process lots of information quickly and it’s a mental shortcut that prevents us from getting overwhelmed by the environmen
• Theoretical and computer models 

  -help us understand internal mental processes 

  Theoretical model 

  -information flows through cognitive system in series of stages  

  • Stages are: input, storage, retrieval (multi store model) 

  Computer model 

  -information processing approach based on how computers function 

  • Compute model would involve programming of a computer to see how instructions produce a similar response to humans 
• Point: use of scientific and objective methods. 

  Evidence: For instance, it utilizes highly controlled and rigorous laboratory experiments to produce reliable and objective data. 

  Explain: This allows researchers to accurately infer cognitive processes, ensuring the findings are trustworthy. Moreover, the emergence of cognitive neuroscience has further enhanced this approach by integrating biology and cognitive psychology, providing a deeper understanding of the mind. 
• Point: machine reductionism, which oversimplifies human thinking. 

  Evidence: The computer analogy compares the brain to a computer, focusing on inputs, outputs, and processing. this ignores the complexity of human thought. 

  Explanation: overlooks the impact of emotions and motivations on cognition. For example, studies show that emotions like anxiety can affect memory and how we process information. 

   
• Point: limited application to everyday life. 

  Evidence: Cognitive psychologists often study mental processes based on observed behaviours, research tends to be abstract and overly theoretical. Many studies also use artificial stimuli, like word lists in memory tests, which don’t reflect real-life experiences. 

  explanation: reliance on artificial methods, findings may not apply to real-life situations, don’t capture the complexity of everyday cognitive processes. This means the research often lacks external validity.