role of inference

• cognitive processes can't be directly observed so theories are generated from experimental evidence
• what are inferences?


  assumptions made about mental processes based on research evidence
• cognitive psychologists will measure some kind of behaviour and will infer what

  mental processes occurred that lead to that behaviour
• the main research method in cognitive approach is laboratory experiment
• The objective measurement of behaviour in lab experiments allows cognitive psychologists to create theories/models about what processes might be occurring inside the mind