COGNITIVE APPROACH
You should be able to show understanding of:
the psychology that is being investigated
the background to that particular study
the aim(s) of the study
the procedure of the study,
ethical issues regarding the study
the results of the study
the conclusion(s) the psychologist(s) drew from the study
the strengths and weaknesses of all elements of the study.
You should be able to:
describe and evaluate the research methods used
consider how the study relates to psychological issues and
debates
apply the findings of the study to the real world.
What is the cognitive approach?
The cognitive approach is the scientific study of the mind as an information processer. It
concerns the way we take in information from the outside world, how we make sense of this
information.
Cognitive approach assumptions:
1. Behaviour can be explained in terms of the role of cognitive thinking processes, like
attention, memory, language.
2. Similarities and differences between people can be explained via cognition, these can be
the way we process info or the way we store info.
, ANDRADE 2010
Doodling
Psychology investigated: The effect of doodling of the simultaneous performance of a task.
Therefore, the impact of doodling on any cognitive task (demanding persons attention)
Background:
- High brain activity during boring tasks leads to daydreaming
- Doodling according to research can reduce daydreaming
- Performing two tasks at once divides the attention lowering performance on both
- Doodling prevents attention from dipping from a boring task
- Doodling uses a low load of executive resources of working memory
- Doodling used practically can help perform routine tasks with concentration.
Aims:
The study aimed to show that doodling leaded to better monitoring and better recall.
Procedure:
- The task was to listen a dull, boring telephone call about a party, there as the
Experimental group who doodled whilst listening, and the Control group who did not
doodle whilst listening.
- 40 adults (18-55age) participated. 20 (18males and 2females) in the control group. And
20 (17males and 3females) in the experimental group.
- The opportunity sample form Cognitive research uni was paid a nominal fee to
participate in the study. P’s where randomly assigned to either of the groups
- P’s where recruited after they had completed another experiment, induction of boredom.
- All p’s where told the same instructions regarding to the message, they were told it was
going to be a dull message, preventing any p’s trying to find interest in the message.
- Experimental group where told it would alleviate boredom, they were not told it would
improve performance, so that they payed attention to doodling not performance.
- Message was standardized, monotone voice, 227 word per minute, played at
comfortable listening volume.
- An auditory task was chosen because doodling is a visual task, this way they do not
gave to interfere with each other dividing resources.
- The fact that they were tested at the end was a surprise to avoid demand characteristics
from p’s paying more attention.
- Doodling was simple, shading in printed shapes freely avoiding them thinking of it as a
primary task.
2
You should be able to show understanding of:
the psychology that is being investigated
the background to that particular study
the aim(s) of the study
the procedure of the study,
ethical issues regarding the study
the results of the study
the conclusion(s) the psychologist(s) drew from the study
the strengths and weaknesses of all elements of the study.
You should be able to:
describe and evaluate the research methods used
consider how the study relates to psychological issues and
debates
apply the findings of the study to the real world.
What is the cognitive approach?
The cognitive approach is the scientific study of the mind as an information processer. It
concerns the way we take in information from the outside world, how we make sense of this
information.
Cognitive approach assumptions:
1. Behaviour can be explained in terms of the role of cognitive thinking processes, like
attention, memory, language.
2. Similarities and differences between people can be explained via cognition, these can be
the way we process info or the way we store info.
, ANDRADE 2010
Doodling
Psychology investigated: The effect of doodling of the simultaneous performance of a task.
Therefore, the impact of doodling on any cognitive task (demanding persons attention)
Background:
- High brain activity during boring tasks leads to daydreaming
- Doodling according to research can reduce daydreaming
- Performing two tasks at once divides the attention lowering performance on both
- Doodling prevents attention from dipping from a boring task
- Doodling uses a low load of executive resources of working memory
- Doodling used practically can help perform routine tasks with concentration.
Aims:
The study aimed to show that doodling leaded to better monitoring and better recall.
Procedure:
- The task was to listen a dull, boring telephone call about a party, there as the
Experimental group who doodled whilst listening, and the Control group who did not
doodle whilst listening.
- 40 adults (18-55age) participated. 20 (18males and 2females) in the control group. And
20 (17males and 3females) in the experimental group.
- The opportunity sample form Cognitive research uni was paid a nominal fee to
participate in the study. P’s where randomly assigned to either of the groups
- P’s where recruited after they had completed another experiment, induction of boredom.
- All p’s where told the same instructions regarding to the message, they were told it was
going to be a dull message, preventing any p’s trying to find interest in the message.
- Experimental group where told it would alleviate boredom, they were not told it would
improve performance, so that they payed attention to doodling not performance.
- Message was standardized, monotone voice, 227 word per minute, played at
comfortable listening volume.
- An auditory task was chosen because doodling is a visual task, this way they do not
gave to interfere with each other dividing resources.
- The fact that they were tested at the end was a surprise to avoid demand characteristics
from p’s paying more attention.
- Doodling was simple, shading in printed shapes freely avoiding them thinking of it as a
primary task.
2
