KEY WORDS:

Empirical Evidence - data obtained by careful observation and experimentation (considered Scientific)
Introspection - to examine ones own mental processes (Wundt). Carefully trained observers would systematically analyse their own sensations and report them as objectively as possible, under standardised conditions.
Ecological Validity - measures how well 'conditions in which the research is conducted are similar to the natural settings where the results will be applied'. If the conditions in which the research is conducted are similar to the natural setting where the results will be applied
Gestalt - overall quality that transcends the individual elements (actively organise and work in patterns). Emphasizes that humans have basic tendencies to actively organise what we see and furthermore, that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Gestalt also emphasised the importance of insight in problem solving. When you are trying to solve a problem, the parts of problem may initially seem unrelated to each other. However, wit a sudden flash of insight, the parts fit together into a solution.
Insight (linked to Gestalt) - recognition of a sudden pattern
Operational Definitions - Any concept is to be defined in terms of it is measured i.e standard IQ test, score is more or less intelligent than standard. Precise definition that specifies exactly how a concept is to be measured
Schemas - mental frameworks that include generalised kinds of information about situations
Cognitive Revolution (1950s - 1960s) - break from the past and a whole new way of looking at cognition. Changed psychology as a whole. Defined as "a strong shift away from behaviourist approaches, to focus on how organism-internal processes, work together to give rise to the human ability to consciously perceive, interpret, and act in the world around them".
Computer Metaphor - human information processor / our cognitive processes work like a computer. Computers also had an influence in thinking mind 'processed' information.
Cognitive Psychology - the study of cognition, where cognition refers to all processes by which the sensory input is transformed, reduced, elaborated, stored, recovered, and used.
Cognitive Approach - theoretical orientation that emphasises people's thought processes and their knowledge
Recency Effect – observation that our recall is especially accurate for the final items in a series of stimuli (list of words or numbers). Mary Calkins.
Behaviourism – must focus on objective, observable reactions to stimuli in the environment, rather than introspection.
Cognitive Science – Interdisciplinary field that tries to answer questions about the mind.
Pure Artificial Intelligence (Pure AI) – Approach that designs a program to accomplish a cognitive task as efficiently as possible, even if the computer’s processes are completely different from the processes used by humans.
Computer Simulation / Computer Modelling - attempts to take human limitations into account. The goal is to program a computer to perform a specific cognitive task in the same way that humans do. It must produce the same number of errors, as well as correct ones, as a human does.
Information-Processing Approach - argues that our mental processes are similar to the operations of a computer, and information progresses through our cognitive system in a series of stages, one step at a time.
Serial Processing - the system must complete one step or processesing stage before information can proceed to the next step in the flowchart.
Classic Information Processing Models - meant to serve as abstract flowcharts that captured what we knew at the time about peoples performance on cognitive tasks.
Connectionist Approach - Cognitive processes can be understood in terms of networks that link together neuron-like processing units; in addition, any operations can proceed simultaneously - rather than one step at a time. It was ground breaking in that it provided a way to understand how populations of neurone worked together in order to represent knowledge gained through learning (Similar names = Parallel Distributed Processing [PDP] Approach / Neural-Network Approach)
Cerebral Cortex - outer layer of the brain that is essential for your cognitive processes.
Cognitive Neuroscience - combines the research techniques of cognitive psychology with various methods for assessing the structure and function of the brain.
Social Cognitive Neuroscience - using neuroscience to explore the kind of cognitive processes we use un the interactions with other people.
Brain Lesion - destruction of an area in the brain, most often by strokes, tumours, blows to the head, and accidents.
PET (Positron Emission Tomography) Scan - measures blood flow in the brain by injecting the participant with a low dose of a radioactive chemical just before the person works on a cognitive task.
fMRI (Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) - based on the principle that oxygen-rich blood is an index of brain activity. Person is put into magnetic machine and the magnetic field produces changes in the oxygen atoms.

	Created by Toni Steiner over 9 years ago

6 Thought, Memory & Language Note on M1: Intro Cognitive Psychology, created by Toni Steiner on 06/07/2016.

M1: Intro Cognitive Psychology