The Cognitive Perspective
Computers vs. Humans
Starter (10 mins)

Name the 5 perspectives in Psychology.

Name 3 main assumptions of the 2
perspectives we have studied so far.

Using a mind map layout these 2
assumptions, displaying the main theories,
evidence and evaluative points.
The Development of Cognitivism

While behaviourism
was a popular
approach in the 40’s
and 50’s, some
psychologists have
pointed out that
internal processes
play a large part in
many human
functions and
therefore should have
a place in
psychological study.

While behaviourists
acknowledge the
existence of internal
processes such as
thinking and emotion,
they don’t consider
them to be an
appropriate focus of
study because they
are not directly
observable. Some
psychologists argue
this provides a limited
account of
psychological
functioning.
What does Cognitive Psychology
focus on?


It focuses on the way
in which we take in,
process, store and
respond to
information.
Particularly in;
Perception, Attention,
Memory, Language
and Thinking.
Cognitive Main Assumptions
People are like machines (parallels can be
drawn between computer processors and
the brain).
 All memory processes can and should be
investigated scientifically.
 Models of psychological functions can be
proposed and tested by observable
behaviour and conscious report.
 Humans are not passive responders to
their environment, there has to be some
process between stimulus and response.

There are 3 main types of enquiry
in cognitive psychology

Experimental cognitive psychology

Cognitive science

Cognitive neuropsychology
Cognitive Neuropsychology

Typically studies cognitive processes in
people who have suffered different types
of brain damage. For example, in 1895
Paul Broca discovered that a particular
area of the brain was concerned with
speech production. He found that damage
in this area affected speech production but
not the ability to understand speech.
Cognitive Science
This is largely to do with theories and
theoretical development.
 An example of this is the debate about
processing. Do we process information in
a linear fashion, one piece at a time (serial
processing), or whether we process more
than one piece of info at a time (parallel
processing).

Experimental Cognitive Psychology

This is our main area of interest as it
studies all types of mental processing in
normal, healthy people, in controlled
experimental settings.

For example memory studies.
Classic Study Ebbinghaus (1885)





This was the first experimental study of internal
mental processes.
He used nonsense words such as ‘bok,’ ‘waf’
and ‘ged’.
He memorised long lists of these nonsense
words and tested himself on recall and retention.
He found that forgetting happened most, closer
to the experiment, after a few days it levelled off.
This method of recall of words has been used
ever since.
What’s the point



This shows that cognitive psychologists study
internal mental processes by measuring some
kind of behaviour (usually verbal or written
responses).
This objective method of study allows cog
psychologists to create theories of what might be
going on inside our minds.
We cannot see a person’s memory working but
we can measure it’s effects. This is the basis of
Cog Psychology.
Remember the following list of
letters.
M S E H G F S B PAC N I E
R PU S I G S O E S SAY
TGTUD
Now try to remember these letters
MA
 SCI
 ENG
 HIST
 GEOG
 FRE
 SPA
BUSSTUD
 PSY



Using some clever experiments, cognitive
psychologists have studied how we
evaluate arguments and beliefs, that is,
how we reason.

A classic study of deductive reasoning
(drawing a logical conclusion from a set of
statements) was conducted by Wason
(1968)
Deductive Reasoning
Wason (1968)
Aim
 To show how people reason and how this
might not be entirely logical.
Method
 Participants were shown four cards and
told that each card had a letter on one side
and a number on the other. They were
also told that all the cards conform to the
following rule.
If a card has an A on one side, then it has
a 3 on the other side.
 Participants were shown four cards
showing A, B, 3 and 2. They were then
asked to turn over only those cards
necessary to discover if the rule was true
or false.
Results
 Most participants correctly turned the card
with the A on it (a number other than a 3
would prove the rule wrong). However,
very few people turned over the card with
2 showing.

It is necessary to turn over this card since
if there was an A on the other side it would
prove the rule to be false.
Conclusion
 The logical way to prove or disprove the
rule is to turn over the cards with A and 2
showing. Since most participants did not
do this, the experiment shows that pure
logical thinking may be difficult for people.
 This experiment shows how cognitive
psychologists use experiments to study
internal mental processes.

The Computer Analogy
The Influence of Computers


Computers provided
an analogy of human
mental processing.
Info is taken in,
processed in some
way, and this
processing in turn
affects behaviour and
experience; The
Computer Analogy
Plenary

Name the 4 main assumptions of
Cognitive Psychology.

Why do Cognitivists disagree with
Behaviourists?

Define what is meant by the Computer
Analogy.