cognitive psychology introduction

Cognitive Psychology - Introduction

Dr.V.Veera Balaji Kumar


Cognitive Psychology Is… The study of how people perceive, learn,

remember, and think about information.

Problem Solving

Attention

Memory Decision Making

IntelligenceLanguage

Perception


RationalistLogic & reasoning is key

Empiricist Experience & observation is key

Philosophical Roots


Cognitive Methods

Experiments Psychobiological studies Self report Case studies Naturalistic Observation Computer Simulations


In an Experiment…

Random sample of participants Manipulate the Independent Variable

Create experimental group Create control group Randomly assign participants

Measure the Dependent Variable Same for all groups

Control all other variables Prevent confounds


Typical Independent Variables

Manipulate stimulus materials Compare words to non-words Compare color diagrams to black and white Compare Yes questions to No questions

Control how participants process materials Use imagery to study versus repetition Vary speed of presentation of materials


Typical Dependent Variables

Reaction Time (milliseconds) Mental events take time

Accuracy/Error analysis How well the participant does on a task


Psychobiological Studies

Postmortem studies Examine the cortex of dyslexics after death

Brain damaged individuals and their deficits Study amnesiacs with hippocampus damage

Monitor a participant doing a cognitive task Measure brain activity while a participant is reciting a

poem


Self Report Studies

Verbal Protocol Participants describe their conscious thoughts

while solving a story problem Diary Study

Participants keep track of memory failures Naturalistic Observation

Monitor decision making of pilots during flights


Case Studies

Intensive studies of individuals May examine archival records, interviews,

direct observation, or participant-observations Creativity of successful individualsThe deficits of a neglected child


Computers in Research

Analogy for human Cognition The sequence of symbol manipulation that

underlies thinking The goal: discovery of the programs in humans’

memory Computer simulations of Artificial

Intelligence Recreate human processes using computers


Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the science of making machines do the sort of things that are done by human minds (Boden 1987).

One major assumption of AI is that both humans and some machines are information processors.

The computer metaphor involves viewing the brain as being like a computer.


I/O PROCESS

If the inputs and outputs of the human and the machines are identical, then given that we understand the functioning of the artificial system, this should throw some light on how a human mind functions.

AI models assume the human mind functions in an analogous way to the computer and so in AI, computers are tools that are used to try and understand how information is processed by the human mind.


• Donders found that simple reaction time is shorter than recognition reaction time (RT), and that choice reaction time is longer than both.

• devised a subtraction method to analyze the time it took for mental operations to take place.

• This method provides a way to investigate the cognitive processes underlying simple perceptual-motor tasks, and formed the basis of subsequent developments


Information processing model

One of the difficulties facing cognitive psychologists is that they are trying to study processes that are not directly observable.

Consequently they suggest that we can imagine what is going on in between input and output and make a model of this which can then be tested by experimental or other means.


Information processing model


ADVANCED INFORMATION

PROCESSING MODEL

cognitive psychology introduction

Technology

veera balaji kumar

key dr

flights dr

apoem dr

neglected child dr

simple reaction time

self report studies

time ittook