cognitive:

• AO3:

  STRENGTH:

  • uses objective scientific study
  • cognitive psychologists employ highly controlled methods of study enabling researchers to infer cognitive processes at work
  • use of lab studies produced reliable and objective data
  • emergence of cognitive neuroscience as allowed two fields of biology and cognitive psychology to combine to enhance the scientific basis of study
  • approach as scientific credibility
• AO3:

  LIMITATION:

  • However, cognitive psychologists relies on inferences made on the mental processes rather than direct observation of behaviour
  • It can sometimes suffer from too theoretical in nature
  • As well, research studies on mental processes often use artificial material such as a list of words which does not represent the everyday experiences we share.
  • Therefore it lacks external validity
• AO3:

  LIMITATION:

  • based on machine reductionism
  • There are similarities between the human mind and a computer (inputs and outputs, storage systems)
  • However, the computer analogy has been criticised. Such machine reductionism ignores the influence of human emotion and motivation on the cognitive system, and how this may affect our ability to process information.
  • For instance, research has found that human memory may be affected by emotional factors, such as the influence of anxiety on eyewitnesses.
  • This suggests that machine reductionism may weaken the validity of the cognitive approach