cognitive psychology final

What is the first big-picture idea of the course?

We have limited resources, but also have strategies for overcoming these limitations.

What is the second big-picture idea of the course?

Top-down processes lead to mental construction of reality, which creates errors and biases.

What is the third big-picture idea of the course?

Depth of processing: we can process information at different levels.

What does the first big-picture idea focus on?

Limited cognitive resources and the strategies we use to overcome those limitations.

What does the second big-picture idea focus on?

How top-down processes construct our reality and can create errors and biases.

What does the third big-picture idea focus on?

The different levels at which we can process information.

What does cognitive load involve?

The limits placed on cognition when too much information must be processed.

What does attentional blindness involve?

Failing to notice something because attention is focused elsewhere.

How do cognitive load and attentional blindness relate to limited resources?

They demonstrate that our attentional and cognitive resources are limited.

What are the STM/WM limits mentioned in the study guide?

Short-term memory and working memory have limited capacity.

What is the important contrast between STM/WM and LTM?

STM/WM are limited, while long-term memory has much greater capacity.

How do STM/WM limits connect to the first big-picture idea?

They demonstrate that our cognitive resources are limited.

How does LTM connect to the first big-picture idea?

Long-term memory provides a way to retain information beyond the limits of STM/WM.

What role does categorization play in overcoming limited resources?

Categorization helps organize information into manageable groups.

What is generalization in relation to categorization?

Extending information or characteristics from one example or group to other similar examples.

How can stereotypes relate to categorization and generalization?

Categorizing people into groups and generalizing characteristics can contribute to stereotypes.

How do categorization, generalization, and stereotypes connect to limited resources?

They can simplify information processing by allowing information to be handled as groups.

What is mental set?

A tendency to approach a problem based on a previous way of solving problems.

How does mental set relate to limited resources?

Using a familiar approach can reduce the effort needed to approach a problem.

What is fixation?

Being stuck on a particular way of approaching or representing a problem.

How does fixation relate to limited resources?

Our established ways of processing a problem can limit the approaches we consider.

What are heuristics?

Mental shortcuts used to make judgments or decisions.

How do heuristics help with limited resources?

They allow us to make judgments without using extensive cognitive resources.

What is System I processing?

Fast, automatic processing that requires relatively little conscious effort.

How does System I relate to limited cognitive resources?

It allows information to be processed quickly without extensive conscious effort.

What is the key idea behind limited cognitive resources?

We cannot process everything fully, so we use strategies to manage our limited resources.

What is top-down processing?

Processing that uses existing knowledge, expectations, or experience to interpret information.

What does top-down processing lead to according to the study guide?

Mental construction of reality.

What is meant by mental construction of reality?

Our minds construct interpretations of information rather than simply taking in reality exactly as it is.

Why can top-down processing create errors and biases?

Our existing knowledge, expectations, and experience can lead us to interpret information inaccurately.

How do perceptual illusions relate to top-down processing?

Knowledge and experience can influence how we perceive information and contribute to perceptual errors.

How do knowledge and experience affect perception?

They can influence how incoming information is interpreted.

What is the key connection between perceptual illusions and the second big-picture idea?

Perception can be influenced by top-down processes, causing our mental construction to differ from reality.

How do false memories relate to top-down processing?

Memory can be reconstructed using existing knowledge and information rather than being an exact record.

What is reconstructive memory?

Memory that is reconstructed rather than reproduced as an exact record.

Why can reconstructive memory produce errors?

Reconstructing a memory can introduce inaccurate or changed information.

How do false memories demonstrate mental construction of reality?

People can remember events or details differently from what actually occurred.

How do deep comprehension and inferences relate to top-down processing?

Existing knowledge helps us construct meaning and infer information that is not directly stated.

What is an inference?

Information that is mentally added or understood even though it is not explicitly stated.

Why are inferences an example of mental construction?

We use existing knowledge to construct information beyond what is directly presented.

What are problem spaces?

The possible states and steps involved in solving a problem.

How does problem representation relate to top-down processing?

How we mentally represent a problem influences how we understand and approach it.

How can problem representation create errors?

A particular representation can prevent us from seeing another possible way to solve the problem.

How does expected emotion relate to the second big-picture idea?

Expected emotions can influence how information and decisions are mentally constructed.

How do motivations relate to the second big-picture idea?

Motivations can influence how we interpret situations and make decisions.

What is the key idea behind top-down processing?

Existing knowledge and experience help construct our interpretation of reality, but this can produce errors and biases.

What does depth of processing mean?

Information can be processed at different levels of depth.

How does visual search relate to depth of processing?

Visual search involves processing visual information while looking for something specific.

How does automaticity relate to depth of processing?

Automatic processes can occur with little conscious attention.

How does change blindness relate to depth of processing?

We may fail to notice changes because not all information receives the same level of processing.

What is change blindness?

Failing to notice changes in a visual scene.

How do study strategies relate to depth of processing?

Different study strategies involve processing information at different levels.

Why is depth of processing important for studying?

Information can be processed at different levels rather than all information being processed equally deeply.

How does expertise relate to depth of processing?

Expertise allows information to be processed using developed knowledge and experience.

How does semantic knowledge relate to depth of processing?

Knowledge about meaning allows information to be processed beyond surface characteristics.

How do expertise and semantic knowledge connect?

Existing knowledge can allow information to be processed more meaningfully and deeply.

How do levels of processing relate to language?

Language can be processed at different levels, including deeper understanding of meaning.

What is a situation model?

A mental representation of what a text or situation is about.

How does a situation model relate to deep processing?

It involves constructing a deeper representation of the meaning of information.

How do surface features relate to problem solving?

Surface features are the obvious characteristics of a problem.

How do structural features relate to problem solving?

Structural features are the underlying relationships involved in a problem.

Why is the distinction between surface and structural features important?

Problems can look different on the surface while having similar underlying structures.

How does System I relate to depth of processing?

System I involves fast, automatic processing.

How does System II relate to depth of processing?

System II involves slower, more deliberate processing.

What is the main difference between System I and System II?

System I is fast and automatic; System II is slower and more deliberate.

What should you be able to do with each of the three big-picture ideas?

Explain the idea using specific examples from the course.

What should you NOT do when answering the written questions?

Do not simply list two examples; use them to explain the big-picture idea.

What should a written answer about limited resources explain?

That cognitive resources are limited and that strategies help us overcome those limitations.

What should a written answer about top-down processing explain?

That top-down processes construct our reality and can create errors and biases.

What should a written answer about depth of processing explain?

That information can be processed at different levels of depth.

Which Chapter 4 topics are specifically listed under limited resources?

Cognitive load and attentional blindness.

Which Chapters 5–7 topics are specifically listed under limited resources?

STM/WM limits and unlimited LTM.

Which Chapter 9 topics are specifically listed under limited resources?

Categorization, generalization, and stereotypes.

Which Chapter 12 topics are specifically listed under limited resources?

Mental set and fixation.

Which Chapter 13 topics are specifically listed under limited resources?

Heuristics and System I processing.

Which Chapter 3 topics are specifically listed under top-down processes?

Perceptual illusions and knowledge/experience-based effects.

Which Chapter 8 topics are specifically listed under top-down processes?

False memories and reconstructive memory.

Which Chapter 11 topics are specifically listed under top-down processes?

Deep comprehension and inferences.

Which Chapter 12 topics are specifically listed under top-down processes?

Problem spaces and representation.

Which Chapter 13 topics are specifically listed under top-down processes?

“Irrational” use of expected emotions and motivations.

Which Chapter 4 topics are specifically listed under depth of processing?

Visual search, automaticity, and change blindness.

Which Chapter 7 topic is specifically listed under depth of processing?

Study strategies.

Which Chapter 9 topics are specifically listed under depth of processing?

Expertise and semantic knowledge.

Which Chapter 11 topics are specifically listed under depth of processing?

Levels of processing of language and situation models.

Which Chapter 12 topics are specifically listed under depth of processing?

Surface versus structural features of problems.

Which Chapter 13 topics are specifically listed under depth of processing?

System I versus System II thinking.

What is the connection between limited resources and strategies?

Because resources are limited, we use strategies to overcome or manage those limitations.

What is the connection between top-down processing and errors?

Using knowledge and experience to construct reality can lead to inaccurate interpretations.

What is the connection between depth of processing and information?

Information can receive different levels of processing rather than being processed at one fixed level.