Cognitive Psychology 4500 Cognitive Psychology 4500 Spring 2013Spring 2013

Section 1: MWSection 1: MW Section 2: MFSection 2: MF

Dr. Diego Fernandez DuqueDr. Diego Fernandez Duque

Cognition: Course Cognition: Course OutlineOutline

A.A. Knowledge Acquisition Knowledge Acquisition 1.1. VisionVision

2.2. AttentionAttention

3.3. Working MemoryWorking Memory

B.B. KnowledgeKnowledge1.1. Episodic & Semantic Memory Episodic & Semantic Memory

2.2. Visual MemoryVisual Memory

C.C. Knowledge UseKnowledge Use1.1. Reasoning & Decision MakingReasoning & Decision Making

2.2. Problem Solving Problem Solving

Course GoalsCourse Goals

1.1. ContentContent: Learn fundamental : Learn fundamental issues in cognitive psychology issues in cognitive psychology

2.2. MethodsMethods: learn the methods of : learn the methods of cognitive psychologycognitive psychology

3.3. Lab ExperienceLab Experience: develop : develop scientific thinking scientific thinking

Today’s take-home messageToday’s take-home message

psychology psychology seemsseems intuitive intuitive (unlike (unlike chemistry)chemistry)

but our but our intuitions are often wrongintuitions are often wrong

rather than relying only on intuition, rather than relying only on intuition, we should apply the scientific method we should apply the scientific method (like we do in chemistry)(like we do in chemistry)

Which center circle seems larger?

Intuition says: “right one!”

but in fact they are the same size

Sometimes we misperceive reality (visual illusions)

Intuition saysIntuition says: I have a complete and detailed visual : I have a complete and detailed visual representation of the outside world representation of the outside world

But But visual attention studies tell us otherwisetudies tell us otherwise

Intuition tells usIntuition tells us: we see the world as it is: we see the world as it is

But in fact, we often see the world But in fact, we often see the world as we know itas we know it

And only discriminate the And only discriminate the sounds we know (R vs. we know (R vs. L) L)

Intuition tells usIntuition tells us: we remember only what we’ve : we remember only what we’ve learntlearnt

but in fact, sometimes we remember things we but in fact, sometimes we remember things we did not experience. did not experience.

A memory testA memory test

• Listen carefully to the list of words but don’t Listen carefully to the list of words but don’t write them downwrite them down

• When the list ends, count backward ‘by When the list ends, count backward ‘by threes’ starting at ‘42’ (39, 36, etc.)threes’ starting at ‘42’ (39, 36, etc.)

• When you get to ‘0’, write down all the When you get to ‘0’, write down all the words you recallwords you recall

sour candy sugar bitter good taste tooth nice honey soda chocolat

e

heart cake tart pie

Sometimes we misremember reality

Intuition tells usIntuition tells us: a dollar is worth a : a dollar is worth a dollardollar

But in fact, its value differs across But in fact, its value differs across situations situations

exampleexample

Imagine you are at Sports City buying a bike Imagine you are at Sports City buying a bike helmet for $36, when your friend texts you helmet for $36, when your friend texts you that the same helmet is on sale for $14 at REI, that the same helmet is on sale for $14 at REI, half an hour away. half an hour away.

Is the saving worth the commute? Is the saving worth the commute?

$36 $14

exampleexample

Imagine you are at Sports City buying a bike Imagine you are at Sports City buying a bike for for $936$936, when your friend texts you that the , when your friend texts you that the same bike is on sale for same bike is on sale for $914 $914 at REI, half an at REI, half an hour. hour.

Is the saving worth the commute? Is the saving worth the commute?

$936 $914

More people are willing to commute to More people are willing to commute to save $14 on a helmet than on a bike. save $14 on a helmet than on a bike.

We value 14 dollars more during a We value 14 dollars more during a small purchase than during a big small purchase than during a big

oneone

A F 6 7

Rule: If a card has a vowel on one side, it has an even number on the other side.

Which cards should be turned over to determined whether this rule is being followed?

Intuition tells us: turn A and 6

Reasoning task

A F 6 7

In fact, you should turn A & 7

19

And yet, sometimes intuition IS rightAnd yet, sometimes intuition IS right

– When ‘silently’ rehearsing a phone When ‘silently’ rehearsing a phone number, we use the brain speech areas. number, we use the brain speech areas.

In sumIn sum, psychology , psychology seemsseems intuitive intuitive (unlike chemistry)(unlike chemistry)

but intuitions are often wrongbut intuitions are often wrong– We mis-perceive (visual illusions)We mis-perceive (visual illusions)– We mis-remember (memory illusions)We mis-remember (memory illusions)– We misjudge (Judgment and decisions)We misjudge (Judgment and decisions)– We reason poorly (Wason Card test)We reason poorly (Wason Card test)

we shouldn’t rely we shouldn’t rely onlyonly on intuition. on intuition. we should apply the scientific method we should apply the scientific method

(like we do in chemistry): SYSTEMATIC (like we do in chemistry): SYSTEMATIC