Psychology Chapter 7: Information Processing

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Questions and Answers

What is the Info Processing Approach?

It analyzes how children manipulate information, monitor it, and create strategies for handling it.

What affects cognitive resources such as capacity and speed of processing?

Biological developments in brain structures and neurons.

What influences how quickly children can process information?

What they can do with that information.

Name one way to assess processing speed.

Reaction-time tasks or matching letters/numbers with symbols. Signup and view all the answers

According to Siegler, what are the three mechanisms that create changes in children's cognitive skills?

Encoding, Automaticity, Strategy construction. Signup and view all the answers

What is encoding according to Siegler?

The process by which information gets into memory. Signup and view all the answers

Define automaticity according to Siegler.

The ability to process information with little or no effort. Signup and view all the answers

What is strategy construction according to Siegler?

The creation of new procedures for processing information. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the information processing in children according to Siegler?

Self-modification. Signup and view all the answers

How do Piaget's and Siegler's theories differ?

Piaget views development in distinct stages while Siegler sees it as gradual. Signup and view all the answers

What is attention in the context of cognitive processing?

The focusing of mental resources. Signup and view all the answers

Children allocate their attention in different ways, including _____ attention.

Selective, Divided, Sustained, Executive. Signup and view all the answers

What is selective attention?

Focusing on a specific aspect of experience while ignoring others. Signup and view all the answers

Define divided attention.

Concentrating on more than one activity at the same time. Signup and view all the answers

What is sustained attention?

The ability to maintain attention to a selected stimulus for a prolonged period. Signup and view all the answers

What does executive attention involve?

Planning actions, allocating attention to goals, and monitoring progress. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes attention in the first year of life?

An orienting investigative process. Signup and view all the answers

What is an orienting investigative process?

Directing attention to important locations and recognizing objects' features. Signup and view all the answers

Why is sustained attention important for infants?

It allows them to learn about and remember characteristics of a stimulus. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Information Processing Approach

Analyzes how children manage, monitor, and strategize information handling.
Cognitive development enhances through overcoming limitations, executing operations, and acquiring new knowledge.

Cognitive Resources

Capacity and speed of processing significantly impact memory and problem-solving abilities.
Biological developments in brain structures and neurons (blooming, pruning, myelination) are crucial.
Increased processing capacity allows handling multiple aspects of topics or problems simultaneously.

Processing Speed Influences

Processing speed is linked to the ability to utilize information effectively.
Faster processing correlates with better cognitive task performance and higher reading fluency.

Assessing Processing Speed

Common assessments include reaction-time tasks where individuals respond to stimuli or match letters/numbers to symbols.
Processing speed improves throughout childhood, often preceding increases in working memory capacity.

Siegler's Mechanisms for Cognitive Skill Changes

Encoding: Involves the process of transferring information into memory, reliant on skill in focusing on relevant details.
Automaticity: Ability to process information with minimal effort is enhanced through practice.
Strategy Construction: Development of new methods for processing information.

Self Modification in Cognitive Processing

Children adapt responses to new situations based on previous learning experiences.
This process relies on metacognition, or awareness of one's own cognition.

Piaget vs. Siegler

Information processing approach shares constructivist elements with Piaget.
Unlike Piaget, it views cognitive development as a gradual process rather than distinct stages, focusing more on continuous change.

Attention

Attention, the focusing of mental resources, is key to enhancing cognitive processing.

Attention Allocation Types

Selective Attention: Concentrating on relevant details while ignoring distractions.
Divided Attention: Managing multiple activities simultaneously.
Sustained Attention: Maintaining focus on a specific stimulus over a prolonged period.
Executive Attention: Involves planning, allocating goals, monitoring progress, and managing challenges.

Early Attention Development

In the first year, attention is characterized by an orienting investigative process.
This process involves focusing on significant environmental locations (where) and recognizing object features (what).

Importance of Sustained Attention for Infants

Sustained attention enables infants to learn and remember stimulus characteristics as they become familiarized.
By three months, infants can maintain attention for 5-10 seconds on familiar stimuli.

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Description

Dive into the key concepts of Chapter 7 on the Information Processing approach in psychology. This quiz will help you understand how children manipulate and monitor information, as well as the cognitive resources involved in processing speed and capacity. Test your understanding of these fundamental ideas in cognitive development.