Cognitive Perspective Methodology & Foundation

Methods Experiments Interviews Observations Psychometric testing Computer simulation

Historical and Cultural Conditions Challenges to behaviorism Impact of 2 nd World War Cultural Variation in Acceptance

Important in Mid 1950s…Why? Dissatisfaction with Behaviorism –Too simple Development of better experimental methods Computers allowed psychologists to try and understand human cognition –Artificial intelligence

Contribution to Scientific study of Behavior Experimental testing Development of models Quantitative Research Qualitative Research Information processing –Working memory model –Emotional intelligence

Assumptions of Cognitive Psychology The mental processing of information is responsible for behavior acquisition and change –Cognitive science studies how people… Acquire Store Transform information Use information –Cognitive scientists think about HOW we think

Assumptions of Cognitive Psychology Cognitive scientists believe that mental processing can be studied and the research triangulated –Methods Controlled laboratory experiments Non experimental research –Very concerned about ecological validity

Ethics of Cognitive Research 1.Sometimes humans cannot be studied Create brain deficits (animals) in a controlled setting and compare it to case studies on humans with naturally occurring deficits 2.Neuro-imaging May expose humans to harmful substances May be used for unintended purposes 3.Deception is sometimes necessary Benefits must outweigh participants right to be informed

4.Protect from harm Informed consent should outline risks Example: sleep deprivation and cognition studies 5.Observation studies do not need consent if… Researcher does not alter natural environment Participants remain anonymous 6.Critical components Informed consent Debriefing about exact nature of research

Ecological Validity Extent to which a research setting matches the environment of the problem under investigation Can be a threat to the external validity of an experiment Very applicable to laboratory experiments External validity –Refers to the generality of the research Representative of real life and does not distort the question

Opinions on ecological validity Neisser, 1976 –No memory model is truly valid because the experiments are not conducted in a natural setting How do you fix this? –Realism and generalization Realism: does it resemble the real world Generalization: will the lab experiment reflect a real life situation Why do we use labs? –CONTROL

Key Areas of Study 1.Schema 2.Perception 3.Memory 4.Evaluation of Cognition –Biological impact on Perception & Memory –Socio-Cultural impact on Perception & Memory –Cognition and Emotion

Mental Processes CAN and SHOULD be studied Scientifically 1.Mental processes = information processing –Allows us to formulate testable theories on unobservable cognitive structures –Example: Memory & Perception 2.Do not need to rely on introspection Definition: Freudian method, self analysis of behavior.

Why did Freud use introspection? He believed that the true cause of behavior was rooted in the unconscious and introspection would help it “come out” in therapy.

3.Studying mental processes allows us to study psychological phenomenon Behaviorism could not explain language development 4.Cognitive Psychology integrates well with the other perspectives 1.Biological factors 2.Socio-cultural factors  These four concepts are shown in the main theories of cognition (schema, perception and memory)