Schema Theory
1. Evaluate schema theory with reference to
research studies
What is schema theory?
• One of the many theories about how we organize
knowledge
• Cognitive structure that provides the framework
for organizing the world
– People
– Places
– Events
• Cognitive Schema
– Networks of knowledge, beliefs and expectations
about particular aspects of the world
Mental processing (schemas) guide behavior
• Mostly automatic
– Processed with little attention
• Bottom-up processing (information input)
– Based on sensory system
• Top-down processing (information is
processed by the brain)
– Pre-stored information in memory
– Interpretation of stimuli
• Output in the form of behavior
Active Processors of information
School
See if you can add 30
pieces of information
based on your schools
schema
Different terms for schemas
• Scripts
– Provide information about the sequence of events
• Restaurant, dentist, class
• Self-schemas
– Information about ourselves
– Strengths and weaknesses
• How we feel about them
• Social schemas
– Information about groups of people
Any
Script
Self
10 items per schema
Specific
Social
Group
Gender Schema
Societies beliefs about the traits
of females and males
GENDER SCHEMA
Influences processing
of social information
Influences self-esteem
(only behavior or attitudes consistent
with gender schema are acceptable
Darley and Gross, 1983
• Aim: investigate whether people’s memory for
a story is affected by previous knowledge
(schema) and
• Procedure  “rich girls, poor girl” and
success (reference 3.1 and 3.2)
Brewer and Treyens, 1981
• AIM: investigate whether people’s memory for objects in a
room (an office) is influenced by existing schemas about the
office
• Method: experiment
• Procedure: wait in office with traditional and untraditional
office items
• Results
– Most recalled the schematic objects and very unusual objects
– Some reported items that were expected to be in an office
• Evaluation
– Ecological validity
– Deception was necessary, participants were debriefed and there was not
harm
– Difficult to generalize results  college students
How does schema impact memory?
• People remember the “gist”
– Not exact wording
• Reconstructive memory
– Filling in the gaps with previous knowledge (schema)
• Aschematic information
– Ignore information that is not in-line with schema
• Leads to bias and stereotype confirmation
• Tend to focus on information that confirms schema
– Confirmation bias
Evaluation of Schemas Theory
• Strengths
– Useful in explaining
many cognitive
processes
• Perception, memory,
reasoning
– Helps us understand
reconstructive memory
• Eyewitness testimony
• Gender identity
• Cultural differences
• Limitations
– Schema theory is too
vague
– How are they acquired in
the first place?
– Focuses too much on
inaccuracies of memory
• Most memory tasks are
relatively accurate
Research Organization
• Supported by
– Darley and Gross, 1983
– Bartlett 1932
– Brewer and Treyens, 1981
– Gauld and Stephenson, 1967
– Bransford and Johnson, 1972
– Macrae et al., 1994
• But schemas are adaptable…supported by
Turnbull, 1961
• Read and take notes on
– Bartlett, 1932 Page 71-73
– Additional research supporting/contradicting
Bartlett
• Gauld and Stephenson, 1967
• Bransford and Johnson, 1972
• Macrae et al., 1994
• QUIZ TOMORROW: SAQ
– Describe schema theory as it applies to human
behavior