Information Processing Theory Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is cognition?

The study of how people retrieve and use knowledge

The study of how people encode knowledge

The study of how people encode, structure, store, retrieve, use, or otherwise learn knowledge (correct)

The study of how people store information

What does limited capacity refer to?

Our ability to store information is limited.

What is a control system in the context of cognition?

Strategies that we use, such as repetition.

What does Shannon's information theory describe?

Cognition as a flow of information through different stages. Signup and view all the answers

How does gestalt psychology affect perception?

Meaning comes from the whole, not individual parts. Signup and view all the answers

What is information processing theory?

A perspective that compares human thinking processes to computer analysis of data. Signup and view all the answers

What is the sensory register?

A system that receives and attends to environmental inputs through the senses. Signup and view all the answers

What does the decay function describe?

Knowledge gradually disappears over time. Signup and view all the answers

What is Mayer's cognitive theory of multimedia learning?

It sets up two different pathways to working memory through hearing and vision. Signup and view all the answers

What is bottom-up processing?

Analysis that begins with sensory receptors and works up to brain's integration of sensory information. Signup and view all the answers

What does top-down processing entail?

Our knowledge and beliefs influence our perception. Signup and view all the answers

What does proximity refer to in perception?

Grouping things together that are close in distance. Signup and view all the answers

What does simplicity mean in terms of perception?

We perceive things in the most simple manner possible. Signup and view all the answers

What is closure in perceptual processing?

The ability to fill in incomplete objects or images. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primacy effect?

Good recall for initial terms. Signup and view all the answers

What does the recency effect indicate?

Good recall for most recent items. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Ebbinghaus forgetting curve represent?

The quantitative relationship between time since learning and the amount remembered. Signup and view all the answers

What is spatial contiguity?

The extent to which events are situated close to each other in space. Signup and view all the answers

What is the coherence principle?

When information is coming through multiple channels. Signup and view all the answers

What does the redundancy principle indicate?

People learn better when the same information is not presented in more than one format. Signup and view all the answers

What does the signaling principle emphasize?

Pointing out organization by using cues like bold text. Signup and view all the answers

What is the temporal contiguity principle?

When we put things close to each other in time. Signup and view all the answers

What does the personalization principle involve?

Using the learner's interests to make content relevant. Signup and view all the answers

What is the voice principle?

People learn better when the teacher's voice matches their own. Signup and view all the answers

What do the Multimedia Learning Principles suggest?

Reduce extraneous processing, manage essential processing, foster generative processing. Signup and view all the answers

At what age do strategy-like behaviors emerge?

Toddlers. Signup and view all the answers

At what age do individuals start using autobiographical memories?

Preschoolers. Signup and view all the answers

What does cognitive capacity consist of?

Extraneous processing + essential processing + generative processing. Signup and view all the answers

What is extraneous overload?

Exhaustion of cognitive capacity due to extraneous material. Signup and view all the answers

What causes essential overload?

Difficulty or rapid presentation of lesson material. Signup and view all the answers

What is generative processing?

The use of working memory that results in productive, engaged learning. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Cognition and Information Processing

Cognition involves understanding how people encode, structure, store, retrieve, and learn knowledge.
Cognition is seen as a flow of information through various stages according to Shannon’s information theory.

Key Concepts in Learning

Information processing theory compares human thinking to computer data analysis, highlighting sensory input, memory connections, and output.
Limited capacity refers to the human brain's restriction on the amount of information it can process simultaneously.
Control systems illustrate strategies like repetition that facilitate learning and memory retention.

Processing Types

Bottom-up processing starts with sensory receptors, progressing to how the brain integrates information.
Top-down processing is influenced by prior knowledge and beliefs, shaping perceptions based on motivations.

Memory Principles

The primacy effect indicates better recall for initial items learned.
The recency effect shows stronger retention of the most recent items encountered.
Ebbinghaus's forgetting curve quantifies the relationship between time after learning and memory retention.

Gestalt Principles in Perception

Proximity suggests that objects close together are perceived as a group.
Simplicity supports the idea that we organize information into the simplest form possible.
Closure refers to the mind's ability to fill in incomplete images or patterns.

Multimedia Learning Theories

Mayer's cognitive theory establishes dual pathways to working memory through auditory and visual inputs.
The coherence principle advocates for effective communication through multiple channels.
The redundancy principle suggests avoiding repetition of the same information across different formats.
The signaling principle involves highlighting information through organization (e.g., bold text).
Temporal contiguity principle emphasizes the association of events that occur close together in time.
Personalization principle adds relevance by tailoring content to the learner's interests.
The voice principle highlights that learners benefit from instruction delivered in a familiar voice.

Cognitive Overload

Cognitive capacity is defined as the sum of extraneous, essential, and generative processing.
Extraneous overload occurs with poorly designed lessons or unnecessary materials, draining cognitive resources.
Essential overload happens during complex lessons that are fast-paced or unfamiliar to the learner, also exhausting cognitive capacity.
Generative processing reflects productive engagement in learning, utilizing working memory effectively.

Developmental Learning Stages

Toddlers begin to develop strategy-like behaviors as they grow.
Preschoolers start using autobiographical memories, reflecting on personal experiences and their implications.

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Description

Explore key concepts related to Information Processing Theory through these flashcards. Each card highlights essential terms, their definitions, and the principles that govern cognitive functions. Perfect for students looking to enhance their understanding of cognition.