The Cognitive PerspectiveThe Cognitive Perspective

Computers vs. HumansComputers vs. Humans

Starter (10 mins)Starter (10 mins)

Name the 5 perspectives in Psychology.Name the 5 perspectives in Psychology.

Name 3 main assumptions of the 2 Name 3 main assumptions of the 2 perspectives we have studied so far.perspectives we have studied so far.

Using a mind map layout these 2 Using a mind map layout these 2 assumptions, displaying the main theories, assumptions, displaying the main theories, evidence and evaluative points.evidence and evaluative points.

The Development of CognitivismThe Development of Cognitivism While behaviourism While behaviourism

was a popular was a popular approach in the 40’s approach in the 40’s and 50’s, some and 50’s, some psychologists have psychologists have pointed out that pointed out that internal processes internal processes play a large part in play a large part in many human many human functions and functions and therefore should have therefore should have a place in a place in psychological study.psychological study.

While behaviourists While behaviourists acknowledge the acknowledge the existence of internal existence of internal processes such as processes such as thinking and emotion, thinking and emotion, they don’t consider they don’t consider them to be an them to be an appropriate focus of appropriate focus of study because they study because they are not directly are not directly observable. Some observable. Some psychologists argue psychologists argue this provides a limited this provides a limited account of account of psychological psychological functioning.functioning.

What does Cognitive Psychology What does Cognitive Psychology focus on?focus on?

It focuses on the way It focuses on the way in which we take in, in which we take in, process, store and process, store and respond to respond to information.information.

Particularly in; Particularly in; Perception, Attention, Perception, Attention, Memory, Language Memory, Language and Thinking.and Thinking.

Cognitive Main AssumptionsCognitive Main AssumptionsPeople are like machines (parallels can be People are like machines (parallels can be

drawn between computer processors and drawn between computer processors and the brain).the brain).

All memory processes can and should be All memory processes can and should be investigated scientifically.investigated scientifically.

Models of psychological functions can be Models of psychological functions can be proposed and tested by observable proposed and tested by observable behaviour and conscious report.behaviour and conscious report.

Humans are not passive responders to Humans are not passive responders to their environment, there has to be some their environment, there has to be some process between stimulus and response.process between stimulus and response.

There are 3 main types of enquiry There are 3 main types of enquiry in cognitive psychologyin cognitive psychology

Experimental cognitive psychologyExperimental cognitive psychology

Cognitive scienceCognitive science

Cognitive neuropsychologyCognitive neuropsychology

Cognitive NeuropsychologyCognitive Neuropsychology

Typically studies cognitive processes in Typically studies cognitive processes in people who have suffered different types people who have suffered different types of brain damage. For example, in 1895 of brain damage. For example, in 1895 Paul Broca discovered that a particular Paul Broca discovered that a particular area of the brain was concerned with area of the brain was concerned with speech production. He found that damage speech production. He found that damage in this area affected speech production but in this area affected speech production but not the ability to understand speech.not the ability to understand speech.

Cognitive ScienceCognitive Science

This is largely to do with theories and This is largely to do with theories and theoretical development.theoretical development.

An example of this is the debate about An example of this is the debate about processing. Do we process information in processing. Do we process information in a linear fashion, one piece at a time (serial a linear fashion, one piece at a time (serial processing), or whether we process more processing), or whether we process more than one piece of info at a time (parallel than one piece of info at a time (parallel processing).processing).

Experimental Cognitive PsychologyExperimental Cognitive Psychology

This is our main area of interest as it This is our main area of interest as it studies all types of mental processing in studies all types of mental processing in normal, healthy people, in controlled normal, healthy people, in controlled experimental settings.experimental settings.

For example memory studies.For example memory studies.

Classic StudyClassic Study Ebbinghaus (1885) Ebbinghaus (1885)

This was the first experimental study of internal This was the first experimental study of internal mental processes.mental processes.

He used nonsense words such as ‘bok,’ ‘waf’ He used nonsense words such as ‘bok,’ ‘waf’ and ‘ged’.and ‘ged’.

He memorised long lists of these nonsense He memorised long lists of these nonsense words and tested himself on recall and retention.words and tested himself on recall and retention.

He found that forgetting happened most, closer He found that forgetting happened most, closer to the experiment, after a few days it levelled off.to the experiment, after a few days it levelled off.

This method of recall of words has been used This method of recall of words has been used ever since. ever since.

What’s the pointWhat’s the point

This shows that cognitive psychologists study This shows that cognitive psychologists study internal mental processes by measuring some internal mental processes by measuring some kind of behaviour (usually verbal or written kind of behaviour (usually verbal or written responses).responses).

This objective method of study allows cog This objective method of study allows cog psychologists to create theories of what might be psychologists to create theories of what might be going on inside our minds.going on inside our minds.

We cannot see a person’s memory working but We cannot see a person’s memory working but we can measure it’s effects. This is the basis of we can measure it’s effects. This is the basis of Cog Psychology.Cog Psychology.

Remember the following list of Remember the following list of letters.letters.

M S E H G F S B P A C N I E M S E H G F S B P A C N I E R P U S I G S O E S S A Y R P U S I G S O E S S A Y

T G T U DT G T U D

Now try to remember these lettersNow try to remember these letters

MAMA SCISCI ENGENG HISTHIST

GEOGGEOG FREFRE SPASPA

BUSSTUDBUSSTUD PSYPSY

Using some clever experiments, cognitive Using some clever experiments, cognitive psychologists have studied how we psychologists have studied how we evaluate arguments and beliefs, that is, evaluate arguments and beliefs, that is, how we reason.how we reason.

A classic study of deductive reasoning A classic study of deductive reasoning (drawing a logical conclusion from a set of (drawing a logical conclusion from a set of statements) was conducted by Wason statements) was conducted by Wason (1968)(1968)

Deductive ReasoningDeductive Reasoning Wason (1968)Wason (1968)

AimAimTo show how people reason and how this To show how people reason and how this

might not be entirely logical.might not be entirely logical.

MethodMethodParticipants were shown four cards and Participants were shown four cards and

told that each card had a letter on one side told that each card had a letter on one side and a number on the other. They were and a number on the other. They were also told that all the cards conform to the also told that all the cards conform to the following rule.following rule.

If a card has an A on one side, then it has If a card has an A on one side, then it has a 3 on the other side.a 3 on the other side.

Participants were shown four cards Participants were shown four cards showing A, B, 3 and 2. They were then showing A, B, 3 and 2. They were then asked to turn over only those cards asked to turn over only those cards necessary to discover if the rule was necessary to discover if the rule was truetrue or or falsefalse..

ResultsResultsMost participants correctly turned the card Most participants correctly turned the card

with the A on it (a number other than a 3 with the A on it (a number other than a 3 would prove the rule wrong). However, would prove the rule wrong). However, very few people turned over the card with very few people turned over the card with 2 showing.2 showing.

It is necessary to turn over this card since It is necessary to turn over this card since if there was an A on the other side it would if there was an A on the other side it would prove the rule to be false.prove the rule to be false.

ConclusionConclusionThe logical way to prove or disprove the The logical way to prove or disprove the

rule is to turn over the cards with A and 2 rule is to turn over the cards with A and 2 showing. Since most participants did not showing. Since most participants did not do this, the experiment shows that pure do this, the experiment shows that pure logical thinking may be difficult for people.logical thinking may be difficult for people.

This experiment shows how cognitive This experiment shows how cognitive psychologists use experiments to study psychologists use experiments to study internal mental processes.internal mental processes.

The Computer AnalogyThe Computer Analogy

The Influence of ComputersThe Influence of Computers

Computers provided Computers provided an analogy of human an analogy of human mental processing.mental processing.

Info is taken in, Info is taken in, processed in some processed in some way, and this way, and this processing in turn processing in turn affects behaviour and affects behaviour and experience; experience; The The Computer AnalogyComputer Analogy

PlenaryPlenary

Name the 4 main assumptions of Name the 4 main assumptions of Cognitive Psychology.Cognitive Psychology.

Why do Cognitivists disagree with Why do Cognitivists disagree with Behaviourists?Behaviourists?

Define what is meant by the Computer Define what is meant by the Computer Analogy.Analogy.