PSYC 358 1st Edition Lecture 2Day 2: Tools and Approaches in the study of CognitionQuestion of the Day“What is Cognitive Psychology all about?”Announcements-Copy of textbook going on reserve-A few pointers on success in the courseExams will have: -a part 1 section that has multiple choices-Part 2 are essays written in blue books-Final covers whole course but are weighted towards the final third of the courseWhat is the nature of Cognitive activity-We can learn by instruction or experience. Experience can be hands on.-Motivations and emotions shape the way we think and behave with the world-Higher cognitive functions are planning, reasoning, contemplating.-Engaging a problem and coming up with an outcome more advanced than the most basic one-We tend to be egocentric and connect things to ourselves-We learn about the basic processes that involve simply getting the stimuli into your mind beforeyou can analyze it.What makes us Smart? -Cognition makes us smart-Smartness is relative-People who are traditionally considered smart, make connections faster than an idiotThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.-We also have culture. A group of people living together create a community of knowledge and experience and beliefs and behaviors and this phenomena gices us a huge leg upIntrospection (turn of 20 th century)Cognition is a hard place to do science – “black box”Think-aloud protocols (try it…)Efforts to assess mental ability through felt experienceLimitations of introspection?-Is it really direct access to the contents of the mind?-Is it scientifically valid/reliable/falsifiable?-do we have conscious access to cognitive activity?Role of introspection today?-can use a think-aloud protocol which is useful when recording thoughts on introspectionBehaviorism (early 20th century)Repose to introspection and psych as un-scientific-Emphasis on observable behavior, conditionLimitations?Often cast as villain for denial of internal mental states--Semantics as critical part of cognitionrole of behaviorism today-Comparative cognition: understanding differences in how various species process info-Learning theory: learning theories and understanding response-Clinical Psych-“Basic” cognition: explaining as much as you can without making assumptions-Behavioral neuroscience.Cognitive psychology (begins ~ 1967)-Response to behaviorist method and theory-Indirect methods to evaluate the unobservable-Especially measuring the content and timing of responses made under controlled conditionsConstructivist view – going beyond the available information (“we see things as we are”)Information processing and the computer metaphor-Processes -Programs-Representations -Data StructuresHow useful is this
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