Cognitive Psychology & Eyewitness Memory – Key Vocabulary

Fill-in-the-blank flashcards covering key vocabulary related to perception, attention, memory, and eyewitness testimony.

The plural form of the noun "phenomenon" is __.

phenomena

Information that is chosen carefully is described as __ (adj).

selective

A feature that stands out as particularly important is said to possess high __ (n).

salience

When you consciously __ (v) a detail, you make a mental note of it.

register

Drawing a logical conclusion from evidence is called making an __ (n).

inference

Anything that distracts attention and changes its direction __ (v) attention.

diverts

The act of discovering the presence of something is known as __ (n).

detection

A clear, logically connected argument is described as __ (adj).

coherent

A possible consequence that can be logically drawn from something is an __ (n).

implication

A statement given under oath in court is called __ (n).

testimony

Something that happened earlier in time is referred to as __ (adj).

prior

What we anticipate happening is our __ (n).

expectation

Someone’s ability or storage limit is their __ (n).

capacity

A misunderstanding due to incorrect explanation is a __ (n).

misinterpretation

To change or modify something is to __ (v) it.

alter

Easily harmed or influenced people are considered __ (adj).

vulnerable

Noticing something only narrowly or just in time means you saw it __ (adv).

narrowly

To __ (v) an object in a crowd is to detect or recognize it.

spot

Our awareness of sensory information is termed __ (n).

perception

Anything related to sight is called __ (adj).

visual

The physical setting where an event occurs is the __ (n).

scene

When we depend on something, we _ it (phrasal verb).

rely on

If we do not become aware of something, we __ to notice it (phrase).

fail

Paying heed for only a short period happens __ (adv).

momentarily

Focusing one’s mind deliberately is to give __ (n).

attention

A person who directly saw an event is an __ (n).

eyewitness

Replacing one item with another involves __ (n).

substitution

Researchers often __ (v) experiments, meaning they design and build them.

construct

Police officers keep a written __ (n) of events to preserve evidence.

logging

If something is considered or judged in a certain way, it is __ (v) to be so.

deemed

When your mind is pulled off task, your attention is __ (adj).

diverted

Someone who is alert and paying close heed is __ (adj).

attentive

Failing to perceive something puts you in an __ (adj) state of it.

unaware

A belief accepted without proof is an __ (n).

assumption

Changes so slight they are hard to detect are described as __ (adj).

subtle

When two companies __ (v), they combine into one.

merge

Research aims to __ (v) important findings, bringing them to prominence.

highlight

Memories that slowly become weaker are said to __ (v) over time.

fade

To experience a process or change is to __ (v) it.

undergo

Prolonged contact with a stimulus is called __ (n).

exposure

If someone is easily affected by suggestions, they are __ (adj).

susceptible

A stimulus that initiates a reaction is a __ (n).

trigger

An unclear or smudged image is described as __ (adj).

blurred

Putting an event back together in memory is to __ (v) it.

reconstruct

Checking the truth of a claim requires you to __ (v) it.

verify

Scientists carefully __ (v) behavior in experiments.

observe

Keeping information in memory over time is to __ (v) it.

retain

A slow, step-by-step change is a __ (adj) process.

gradual

Seeing something that is not really there is experiencing an __ (n).

illusion