Cognitive Psychology Overview

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Questions and Answers

What has posed challenges for researchers studying the mind?

  • The limited number of researchers available
  • The unobservable nature of mental processes (correct)
  • The tangible nature of brain structures
  • The accessibility of advanced technology

All theoretical approaches to studying the mind have been equally successful.

False (B)

What analogy is used to explain the challenges in studying mental processes?

Observing a factory from a hill

To study the factory's processes, one might pay attention to ______ activities.

<p>outward</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following aspects of studying mental processes with their corresponding challenges:

<p>Unobservable nature = Difficulty in direct measurement Theoretical approaches = Diverse interpretations and conclusions Empirical research = Limited data on mental events Manipulation of factors = Ethical concerns in experimentation</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a focus of cognitive psychology?

<p>Emotional intelligence (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Cognitive psychology only examines observable behaviors.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does cognitive psychology aim to understand regarding mental processes?

<p>How people perceive, represent, remember, and use knowledge.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Cognitive psychologists are interested in processes such as memory creation and the __________ of older memories.

<p>reinterpretation</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the cognitive process to its description:

<p>Memory = Operation on sensory input to form recollections Knowledge representation = Structuring of information in the brain Problem solving = Finding solutions to complex questions Decision making = Choosing between alternatives based on information</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who described cognitive psychology as processes by which sensory input is transformed, reduced, elaborated, stored, and recovered?

<p>Neisser (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Modern cognitive psychologists view representation in memory as static and unchanging.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What mental processes are involved in a simple activity, such as going to Tim Hortons for coffee and a donut?

<p>Memory, knowledge representation, decision making, problem solving.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Cognitive Psychology

The study of mental processes like memory, language, problem-solving, and decision-making.

Information Processing

A framework for understanding how the mind works by comparing it to a computer.

Mental Representation

The way knowledge is stored and organized in our minds.

Knowledge

Information that we have learned and stored in memory.

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Cognitive Processes

The actions of the mind, such as understanding, remembering, or making decisions.

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Memory

The mental capacity to encode, store, and retrieve information.

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Language

The system we use to communicate and express ourselves.

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Problem Solving

The mental processes used to overcome obstacles and reach goals.

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Unobservable mental processes

Mental activities that cannot be directly observed.

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Studying unobservable events

Figuring out what's happening inside a hidden factory, like the mind, using clues.

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Observing factory activity

Looking for clues/activities around the factory to understand inner workings.

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Manipulating factory inputs

Changing the items going into the factory to observe changes in the output.

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Impact of changes

Changes in factory inputs will affect the results or outputs.

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Study Notes

Scope of Cognitive Psychology

  • Cognitive psychology investigates mental processes enabling everyday actions like getting coffee.
  • These mental processes include memory, knowledge representation, language, problem-solving, and decision-making.
  • Cognitive psychology examines how sensory input is processed, from transformation to storage and retrieval.
  • It focuses on perception, knowledge representation, memory, and knowledge usage.

Key Definitions

  • Cognitive psychology is an information-processing approach studying internal mental mechanisms mediating behavior (Medin, Ross, & Markman, 2001)
  • It considers all processes transforming, reducing, elaborating, storing, and recovering sensory input (Neisser, 1967)
  • It explores how people perceive, represent, remember, and use knowledge (Norman & Rumelhart, 1975)

Defining Characteristics of Cognitive Psychology

  • Representation: Knowledge stored in memory. Modern views consider representation to be dynamic and changeable.
  • Process: Operations on internal or external stimuli. Memory processes include creating, manipulating, updating, and reinterpreting memories.

Studying Unobservable Mental Events

  • Mental processes are unobservable, posing research challenges.
  • Studying mental events is analogous to observing a factory's activities from an overlook.
  • Observation of inputs, outputs, and manipulation of inputs to study effects on outputs helps understand processes within the factory.

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