Cognitive Psychology Framework

1. Cognitive Psychology Framework Structure of Memory The Atkinson and ShiffrinModel (1968) Memory is understood as a series of structures: Sensory memory Short-term memory Long-term memory See p. 73

2. Cognitive Psychology Framework • We use selective attention to focus only on a limited aspect of all that we experience. • We are bombarded, according to Wilson (2002) by 11,000,000 bits of information per second. Of that number we consciously process 40 items. • Cocktail party effect: you are having a conversation at a party, then you hear your name on the other side of the room and your attention shifts

3. ActivityRead the following list of words Brew Hall Help Summer Cackle Boxing School People Wheel Atrophy Limits Senses History Picture Exams Effect Pizza Telephone Book Approach

4. Write down all the words you remember. • Primacy Effect • Words near the start of the list have made it into long term memory • Recency Effect • Words near the end of the list are still in short term memory

5. ActivityRead the following list of words Brew Hall Help Summer Cackle Boxing School People Wheel atrophy Limits Senses History Picture Exams Effect Pizza Telephone Book Approach

6. Principle of Cognitive LoA So what principle did the last activity demonstrate? Mental Processes guide behaviour.

7. Schema Theory & Memory Processes • Memory processes • Encoding • Storage • Retrieval • During which stage(s) can schema processing affect memory?

8. Anderson & Pichert (1978) • GROUP ACTIVITY • In small groups (3-4), read the study on P. 72 • Does schema processing influence both encoding & retrieval?

9. Principle of Cognitive LoA So what principle did the last activity demonstrate? The mind can be studied scientifically

10. Ideas About Memory • Working Memory • Short-Term Memory • Long-Term Memory

11. Atkinson & Shiffrin’s (1968)Multi-Store Model of Memory • Suggested in 1960s when the cognitive revolution began • Inspired by computer science (humans = information processors) • Two premises: • 1. Memory consists of separate stores • 2. Memory processes are sequential

12. Atkinson & Shiffrin’s (1968)Multi-Store Model of Memory

13. Memory Take out a piece of paper and pen or pencil. Follow the directions. Memory Test

14. Principle of Cognitive LoA So what principle did the last activity demonstrate? • Cognitive processes are influenced by social & cultural factors

15. Memory Processes • Encoding • Refers to the laying down of a memory trace in LTM (See page 72 “Research in Psychology”) • To improve encoding we rely on: • Elaboration • Organizing • Integrating • Elaboration • Involves adding meaning to the info so it becomes integrated with what you already know or it becomes personally relevant • Example, my name is Mr. Weisse and I love soccer. • Why is this a good example of elaboration?

16. Memory Processes • Method of Loci • Loci: means “places” in Latin, plural of locus • Mnemonic strategy that uses visual cues to remember unconnected info • You will remember better if the item is attached to some other characteristic • Example: Mole from “Austin Powers” • Organization • Grouping or chunking info can help us remember • Acronyms are a great example • NATO, APA, RWRCPHS • Grouping similar items together is known as “clustering” • Example: list of 40 words made up of animals, jobs, and fruit, you would notice the similar items and organize them. When asked to remember them you would most likely cluster.

17. Memory Processes • Conceptual hierarchy • Good example are animal classifications in biology • Schemas • Organized clusters of knowledge about people, objects, and events, often based on our previous experiences • Stored in LTM • We expect new info to fit in with our schemas • Write down who/what you would expect to see and/or do at a bar • Now what if you saw a 5 year old by him/her self at the bar, that does not fit in our schemata of a bar

18. Memory Processes • Semantic Network • A structure or framework made up of individual words or concepts that are linked to other similar words or concepts by pathways • Pathways are short for very similar concepts, and longer for those less associated • Contextual effects • Where learning takes place may also play a role in recall • Internal and external cues can lead to recall. Therefore, learning in the place you are to take a test might help. • This is known as the encoding specificity principle

19. Information Processing • The following are included in info processing: • Perception • Memory • Language • Reasoning • Problem solving An information processing model of human cognition suggests that a stimulus produces a sensation that is then perceived and processed for meaning.

20. Information Processing The processing occurs as a part of what we know in our long term memory and short term expectations. Both of which are analyzed in working memory to determine what response should be used.

21. Information Processing • Influential tools cognitive psychologists have used to understand how info is processed. • Reaction Times • Speed at which info is processed • Working memory • Amount of info that can be processed • Emotional intelligence • The interaction between information processing and how we and others feel.

22. Reaction Time • The faster a task is done, the more cognitively able that person is thought to be • This has been associated with intelligence and memory performance • Reaction time is a measure of speed of response. • Why do you suppose reaction time is so closely related to cognitive abilities?

23. Working Memory • Everyday activities require the ability to hold information temporarily in mind while we perform the mental task. • Working memory has limits. We can not work on to much at once or we will botch it all up. Think about driving while talking on a mobile phone, eating, looking for a CD or cassette tape. • Example from Mr. Weisse. “Telephone pole”

24. Emotional Intelligence • Cognitive theories of emotion emphasize how we interpret events as well as how our bodies react to events in their explanations of emotions. • Easily recognizable physiological responses can be seen with fear and rage • Question for you to ponder: Do we have any say in our choice of emotions we experience? Please explain.

25. Emotional Intelligence • We can exhibit a bit of control. This is called emotional regulation. • Emotional regulation can be found in three areas • Emotions lead to behavioural responses that are not useful • When emotions arise from a mistaken or misunderstanding of the situation • When emotions lead to behavioural responses that are in conflict with other goals we have

26. Working Memory Model • Baddeley and Hitch (1974, 1990) • Can be understood as a model with three parts • Short term store for verbal info • Short term store for visual info • “central executive” • The verbal and visual stores hold verbal and visual info while the central executive manipulates that info See the model on page 73

27. Long Term Memory (LTM)(Page 77) • Explicit Memory • Involves intentional or conscious recollection of previous experiences • Declarative Memory • Is thought to handle explicit memory and store factual information. It can be subdivided into two parts • Episodic memory system: made up of personal facts about your life, a mental diary • Semantic Memory system: contains general facts, a mental encyclopedia

28. Long Term Memory (LTM) • Implicit memory • Involves unintentional or unconscious remembering and is thought to handle: • Procedural memories • Classically conditioned responses • Procedural memory system • Stores memory for skills, actions, or habits