CA AO3

• strengths of CA


  • uses objective and scientific methods
  • has practical application to everyday life
• weaknesses of CA


  • Lacks external validity
  • based on machine reductionism
• + uses objective scientific methods

  • CP use highly controlled methods so researchers can infer cognitive processes at work
  • this involves lab studies to produce reliable and objective data
  • emergence of cognitive neuroscience has enabled biology and cognitive psychology to come together to enhance the scientific base of study
  • this means the study of the mind has credible scientific basis
• + has practical application to everyday life

  • cog approach is the dominant approach and is applies to a wide range of practical and theoretical contexts
  • e.g. CP made a contribution to AI and development to robots
  • cog principles have also been applied to treatment of depression and improved reliability of eyewitness testimony
  • this supports value of cognitive approach
• - lacks external validity

  • relies on inference of mental processes
  • can suffer from being too abstract and theoretical in nature
  • research studies of mental processes are carried out using AI that may not represent everyday life
  • therefore the approach lacks external validity
• - based on machine reductionism

  • computer analogy has been criticised by many
  • machine reductionism ignores influence of human emotion and motivation on the cog system
  • this affects our ability to process information
  • research found that human memory may be affected by emotional factors - influence of anxiety on eye witnesses
  • suggests MR may weaken the validity of the cognitive approach