Psych U2:2

Metacognition

Thinking about thinking

Executive functions

Cognitive processes that allow individuals to generate, organize, plan, and carry out goal-directed behaviors and experience critical thinking

Prototype

A mental image or best example of a category that aids in recognizing and categorizing objects/concepts

Schemas

Cognitive frameworks/blueprints that help organize and interpret information based on past experiences and knowledge

Assimilation

"Adding to existing" The cognitive process of fitting new information into existing schemas

Accomodation

"Adjusting" Modifying existing schemas or creating new ones in response to new information

Convergent thinking

Cognitive process that focuses on finding a single, correct solution to a problem by applying logical steps.

- it is particularly effective in situations where a single correct answer is needed, and it relies heavily on logic and existing knowledge.

Divergent thinking

A thought process/method used to generate creative ideas by exploring many possible solution

- creativity

Functional fixedness

a cognitive bias that limits a person to using an object only in the way it is traditionally used

- restricts problem solving by hindering ability to see alternate uses for familiar objects

Algorithms

Step by step procedures/formulas for solving problems that guarantee a correct solution

Heuristics

Mental shortcuts or "rules of thumb" that simplify decision making by reducing the cognitive burden

- speed up problem-solving and decision making processes

- can lead to biases/errors in judgement

Representativeness Heuristic

cognitive shortcut wherein individuals make judgements about the probability of an event under uncertainty based on how much it resembles existing stereotypes or typical cases

Availability Heuristic

a mental shortcut that relies on immediate examples that come to a given person's mind when evaluating a specific topic, concept, method or decision.

Mental set

A tendency to approach a problem in a certain way because that method worked in the past, which can sometimes prevent seeing alternative solutions

Priming

Exposure to one stimulus influences the response to a subsequent stimulus, without conscious guidance or intention

Framing

how information is presented influences decisions and perceptions

Gambler's fallacy

Cognitive bias that occurs when individuals believe that the outcome of a random event is influenced by previous outcomes, even though each event is independent and has no bearing on future results

Sunk cost fallacy

cognitive bias where individuals continue investing time, money, or effort into a project or decision because they have already invested so much, even if the returns are poor or the endeavor no longer aligns with their goals.

Intelligence

The ability to learn from experience, solve problems, and use knowledge to adapt to new situations

g (general intelligence)

the overarching mental ability that influences performance on various cognitive tasks.

Multiple intelligence

Suggests that individuals possess different types of intelligence beyond traditional measures, such as linguistic, logical-mathematical, musical, etc...

Growth Mindset

Belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and effort

Fixed mindset

Belief that intelligence is predetermined and cannot be significantly changed

Intelligence quotient (IQ)

Numerical measure of an individual's cognitive abilities compared to other sin their age group, typically assessed through standardized tests

Mental age

Level of performance typically associated with a certain chronological age

standadization

The process of establishing consistent testing procedures and norms for administering and scoring psychological assessments

Achievement Tests

assess a person's knowledge or skills in a specific area, such as academic subjects or job-related tasks. They measure what an individual has learned or accomplished.

Aptitude Tests

measure a person's potential for learning or mastering specific skills or tasks in the future. They assess innate abilities and predict future performance.

Validity "Very Accurate"

the extent to which a test accurately measures what it is intended to measure.

Construct Validity

checks if a test really measures what it's supposed to. It helps make sure the test gives the right results for what it's trying to find out.

Predictive Validity

shows how well a test can forecast future outcomes or behaviors. It measures if test scores can predict future performance accurately.

Reliability "Repeat Results"

consistency in test results over time and among different scorers. It assures that a test yields stable and dependable measurements.

Test-Retest Reliability

assesses consistency by administering the same test to the same group twice. It measures how stable scores are over time

Split-Half Reliability

divides a test into two halves and compares scores between them. It measures internal consistency by checking if both halves yield similar results.

Flynn Effect

the trend of average IQ scores increasing over generations. It suggests a rise in general intelligence due to environmental and cultural factors

Stereotype Threat

the phenomenon where individuals underperform in situations where they feel at risk of confirming negative stereotypes about their social group.

Stereotype Lift

the opposite of stereotype threat, occurs when individuals from stereotypically advantaged groups perform better on tests due to the positive expectations associated with their group.