The use of theoretical and computer models

• Computer model:

  > Cognitive psychologists argue the mind functions like a computer

  > The information - processing model applies the idea of the human mind functioning like a computer eg. information may enter the brain but how we respond depends on how we process information
• The computer model is a 3 stage process

  > Input - We receive the Information from the environment via our senses e.g. sight, sound, smell and it is encoded

  > Process - The information is now processed (we interpret the event). We store the information as a memory

  > Output - The appropriate behaviour, emotion is performed or retrieval of information occurs
• Theoretical models

  > Cognitive psychologists take a behaviour and look at the processes that happen ‘behind the scenes’, they will then describe this process in a series of steps

  > The Multi-store model suggests that memory has separate unitary stores and information flows through memory in a linear way

  > Miller used a controlled lab experiment to investigate the capacity of STM in which he used the digit span technique, adding one digit each time until participants could no longer recall the number