Cognitive Psychology: 630 Well Defined
terms with Certified Solutions 2023-2024
CHAPTER 1...
What is cognition? - Answer--cognition is the mental action of knowing
What were the three stages of Cognitive Psychology & Information Processing? -
Answer-
-stage 1 (1950s-1960's): traditional experimental psychology
-stage 2 (mid- 1970's): computational analysis, cognitive science
-stage 3 (mid- 1980's): neuropsychology, neurophysiology, imaging
Describe stage 1 – Answer-
-birth
-barbaric
Describe stage 3 - Answer--see structurally and functionally what the brain is doing
Describe how the world contains information for humans to process – Answer-
-information is stores in 'bits' (binary digits)
-most basic unit of information
-if event has two likely outcomes, it provides one 'bit' of info
What is the big picture? - Answer--different types of info can be boiled down to the
same unit of measurement
Information theory... information in a message is _____ related to its probability of
occurrence. Explain. - Answer--inversely
-the less likely it is, the more info it conveys
Describe Michal Forisek's explanation of this – Answer- Box with 365 pieces of paper
(one/day)--> all equally likely
1. "It's not date in December" --> not a lot of information given, high probability (11/12)
2. "The date is a Monday"--> narrowed it down, more info, event significantly less likely
(52 possibilities)
3. "July 4th!" -->least probability (1/365), carries the most information (8.51 bits)
, Cognitive Psychology: 630 Well Defined
terms with Certified Solutions 2023-2024
Describe Hick & Hyman information theory early tests – Answer-
-people respond faster to expected than to unexpected stimuli
-looking at lights, flashed @ random times, push a button when see light (diff button
corresponded to diff light)
-people had faster mean reaction time when they saw light blinking that they expected
-less probable event happened, slower to process that (still pushed but with some
delay)
What are the two types of limitations on information-processing? – Answer-
1. time limitation (info take TIME to be processed in the nervous system)
2. capacity limitation (nervous system can process a certain CAPACITY of info at any
one time)
Describe Webster & Thompson's "dichotic listening" experiment – Answer-
-capacity limitation
-dichotic listening= listening with both ears (one message in one ear)
-could only identify one piece of info
What is the take-away message? – Answer-
-we do NOT passively receive and transform information
-we ACTIVELY select information to process
What are the two Standard Models of Information Processing? – Answer-
-Broadbent's Filter Model (1958)
-Waugh and Norman's Model (1965)
Describe Broadbent's Filter Model (1958) – Answer-
-signal enters input channels (eye, ear, etc)
-then enter capacity-free sensory buffer (temporary store) --> buffer extracts simple
stimulus characteristics, messages decay over time
-filter passes along a selection of information to the limited capacity system ("higher
order" attributes (e.g form and meaning))
Describe the diagram – Answer-
-input channels--> senses (eye, ear)--> short-term memory (capacity-free buffer)--> filter
(selection in the basis of physical characteristics only) --> selected input for attention
, Cognitive Psychology: 630 Well Defined
terms with Certified Solutions 2023-2024
What does this all mean – Answer-
-information follows linear string
-capacity-free sensory buffer= short-term memory store (no capacity)
-filter weeds out certain stimuli to pass to next stage, where we actually process
Describe Broadbent's Filter Model Experiment: "73-42-15" – Answer-
1. Remember the numbers in ANY order" --> 65% accurate ("741- 325" or "325-741")
2. Remember the numbers in the order they were presented--> 20% accurate (73-42-
15)
Explain this – Answer-
-when accurate, remembered in chunks
-suggests that the ears act as separate channels
-a lot easier to process ears one @ a time
-rather than switching back and forth
-the more switches, the more muddled up you are (the more chances for info to decay)
Describe Waugh and Norman's Model (1965) – Answer-
TWO types of memory:
-Primary memory (short-term memory)--> what we're aware of in the "immediately
present moment"
-Secondary memory (long-term memory)--> indefinitely stored knowledge (acquired
earlier)
Describe the diagram - Answer--Stimulus--> Primary memory goes into EITHER 1.
Forgotten OR 2. Secondary Memory (rehearsal)
What component does this model have? – Answer-
-rehearsal component
-when info enters primary memory, it needs to be rehearsed in order to be retained
-the more you rehearse something, the more you remember it
-once it goes into secondary memory, it is there to stay
Describe (Waugh and Norman's Model) the Brown-Peterson task: - Answer-
1. Remember the letters B, Q, R
2. Now count back from 107 by threes (for 5 or 20 seconds)
, Cognitive Psychology: 630 Well Defined
terms with Certified Solutions 2023-2024
What were the results? - Answer-
-the longer the distractor, the worse you remember the letters
-if distracted for 5 seconds, about 80% accuracy
-if distracted longer, recall accuracy drastically decreases
-the longer the distraction period, the less likely you are to remember it accurately
What is ecological validity? - Answer-
-is this generalizable to the real world? (outside of a lab)
-all of these experiments are very artificial
Describe Gibson's idea of ecological validity - Answer-
-1950; 1966
-natural environment is rich in information
-meaning of items based on "affordances" (potential functions in the real world)
Define affordances - Answer--clues in the environment that indicate possibilities for
action
How are affordances gained? - Answer-
-through experience
-learn what the importance is of different objects
-this is how we deal with the world
-not born with it, learn it
Wha is an example - Answer-
-button-push
-switch-flip
-knob-rotate
LIGHT FEEDBACK
Descibe affordances - Answer-
-knowledge of affordances is not innate
-we learn what can and can't be done with items through "INFORMATION PICKUP"
-therefore, 'learning' means "becoming more attuned to what the environment affords
us"
In Gibson's idea, brain is not ____ - Answer--static
terms with Certified Solutions 2023-2024
CHAPTER 1...
What is cognition? - Answer--cognition is the mental action of knowing
What were the three stages of Cognitive Psychology & Information Processing? -
Answer-
-stage 1 (1950s-1960's): traditional experimental psychology
-stage 2 (mid- 1970's): computational analysis, cognitive science
-stage 3 (mid- 1980's): neuropsychology, neurophysiology, imaging
Describe stage 1 – Answer-
-birth
-barbaric
Describe stage 3 - Answer--see structurally and functionally what the brain is doing
Describe how the world contains information for humans to process – Answer-
-information is stores in 'bits' (binary digits)
-most basic unit of information
-if event has two likely outcomes, it provides one 'bit' of info
What is the big picture? - Answer--different types of info can be boiled down to the
same unit of measurement
Information theory... information in a message is _____ related to its probability of
occurrence. Explain. - Answer--inversely
-the less likely it is, the more info it conveys
Describe Michal Forisek's explanation of this – Answer- Box with 365 pieces of paper
(one/day)--> all equally likely
1. "It's not date in December" --> not a lot of information given, high probability (11/12)
2. "The date is a Monday"--> narrowed it down, more info, event significantly less likely
(52 possibilities)
3. "July 4th!" -->least probability (1/365), carries the most information (8.51 bits)
, Cognitive Psychology: 630 Well Defined
terms with Certified Solutions 2023-2024
Describe Hick & Hyman information theory early tests – Answer-
-people respond faster to expected than to unexpected stimuli
-looking at lights, flashed @ random times, push a button when see light (diff button
corresponded to diff light)
-people had faster mean reaction time when they saw light blinking that they expected
-less probable event happened, slower to process that (still pushed but with some
delay)
What are the two types of limitations on information-processing? – Answer-
1. time limitation (info take TIME to be processed in the nervous system)
2. capacity limitation (nervous system can process a certain CAPACITY of info at any
one time)
Describe Webster & Thompson's "dichotic listening" experiment – Answer-
-capacity limitation
-dichotic listening= listening with both ears (one message in one ear)
-could only identify one piece of info
What is the take-away message? – Answer-
-we do NOT passively receive and transform information
-we ACTIVELY select information to process
What are the two Standard Models of Information Processing? – Answer-
-Broadbent's Filter Model (1958)
-Waugh and Norman's Model (1965)
Describe Broadbent's Filter Model (1958) – Answer-
-signal enters input channels (eye, ear, etc)
-then enter capacity-free sensory buffer (temporary store) --> buffer extracts simple
stimulus characteristics, messages decay over time
-filter passes along a selection of information to the limited capacity system ("higher
order" attributes (e.g form and meaning))
Describe the diagram – Answer-
-input channels--> senses (eye, ear)--> short-term memory (capacity-free buffer)--> filter
(selection in the basis of physical characteristics only) --> selected input for attention
, Cognitive Psychology: 630 Well Defined
terms with Certified Solutions 2023-2024
What does this all mean – Answer-
-information follows linear string
-capacity-free sensory buffer= short-term memory store (no capacity)
-filter weeds out certain stimuli to pass to next stage, where we actually process
Describe Broadbent's Filter Model Experiment: "73-42-15" – Answer-
1. Remember the numbers in ANY order" --> 65% accurate ("741- 325" or "325-741")
2. Remember the numbers in the order they were presented--> 20% accurate (73-42-
15)
Explain this – Answer-
-when accurate, remembered in chunks
-suggests that the ears act as separate channels
-a lot easier to process ears one @ a time
-rather than switching back and forth
-the more switches, the more muddled up you are (the more chances for info to decay)
Describe Waugh and Norman's Model (1965) – Answer-
TWO types of memory:
-Primary memory (short-term memory)--> what we're aware of in the "immediately
present moment"
-Secondary memory (long-term memory)--> indefinitely stored knowledge (acquired
earlier)
Describe the diagram - Answer--Stimulus--> Primary memory goes into EITHER 1.
Forgotten OR 2. Secondary Memory (rehearsal)
What component does this model have? – Answer-
-rehearsal component
-when info enters primary memory, it needs to be rehearsed in order to be retained
-the more you rehearse something, the more you remember it
-once it goes into secondary memory, it is there to stay
Describe (Waugh and Norman's Model) the Brown-Peterson task: - Answer-
1. Remember the letters B, Q, R
2. Now count back from 107 by threes (for 5 or 20 seconds)
, Cognitive Psychology: 630 Well Defined
terms with Certified Solutions 2023-2024
What were the results? - Answer-
-the longer the distractor, the worse you remember the letters
-if distracted for 5 seconds, about 80% accuracy
-if distracted longer, recall accuracy drastically decreases
-the longer the distraction period, the less likely you are to remember it accurately
What is ecological validity? - Answer-
-is this generalizable to the real world? (outside of a lab)
-all of these experiments are very artificial
Describe Gibson's idea of ecological validity - Answer-
-1950; 1966
-natural environment is rich in information
-meaning of items based on "affordances" (potential functions in the real world)
Define affordances - Answer--clues in the environment that indicate possibilities for
action
How are affordances gained? - Answer-
-through experience
-learn what the importance is of different objects
-this is how we deal with the world
-not born with it, learn it
Wha is an example - Answer-
-button-push
-switch-flip
-knob-rotate
LIGHT FEEDBACK
Descibe affordances - Answer-
-knowledge of affordances is not innate
-we learn what can and can't be done with items through "INFORMATION PICKUP"
-therefore, 'learning' means "becoming more attuned to what the environment affords
us"
In Gibson's idea, brain is not ____ - Answer--static
