Cognitive Approach Studies

what study talks about the Working Model Memory modle

Baddeley et al. (1973)

Aim of Baddeley et al. (1973)

To test whether performing two tasks that use the same memory system (e.g., both visual) affects performance more than doing two tasks that use different memory systems (e.g., a visual and a verbal task).

procedure of Baddeley et al. (1973)

1. Participants were given a primary task: Tracking a moving light on a screen (a visual-spatial task).

2. At the same time, they had to complete a secondary task:

   • Group 1: Describing the angles in an imaginary letter (another visual-spatial task).

   • Group 2: Repeating a series of random numbers (a verbal task).

3. Researchers measured accuracy and speed in both tasks.

4. Performance was compared between the two groups to see if multitasking affected results.

results of Baddeley et al. (1973)

Group 1 (two visual tasks): Performance significantly declined due to interference.

Group 2 (visual + verbal task): Performance remained stable, showing little interference.

conclusion of Baddeley et al. (1973) in relation to WMM

The study supports the Working Memory Model by showing that tasks using the same memory system interfere with each other, while tasks using different systems do not. This proves that working memory has separate components for different types of information.

what study talks about Multi-Store Memory Model

Corkin (1997)

aim of Corkin (1997)

To investigate the role of the hippocampus in memory and whether H.M.’s memory problems were linked to brain damage.

procedure of Corkin (1997)

1. H.M., who had suffered severe epilepsy, underwent surgery that removed his hippocampus.

2. He could remember old memories but couldn’t form new long-term memories.

3. Corkin used MRI scans to examine his brain structure.

Behavioral memory tests were conducted to see which types of memory were affected.

results of Corkin (1997)

• H.M. could not form new declarative (explicit) memories but retained old ones.

• His procedural memory (e.g., learning skills) remained intact.

MRI scans showed severe hippocampal damage, confirming its role in memory transfer.

conclusion of Corkin (1997) in relation to MSMM

The study supports the Multi-Store Memory Model because it shows that without a hippocampus, information cannot transfer from STM to LTM. H.M.’s short-term memory was intact, but his long-term memory was impaired, proving they are separate systems.

study that talks about schema threory

Bartlett (1932)

aim of Bartlett (1932)

To investigate how memory is influenced by schemas and whether people reconstruct memories to fit their cultural backgrounds.

procedure of Bartlett (1932)

1. Participants (British people) were told a Native American story called "The War of the Ghosts."

2. They were asked to recall the story after different time intervals (minutes, days, weeks, months, or even years).

3. Bartlett examined how their memory changed over time.

results of Bartlett (1932)

• Participants changed details to fit their own cultural expectations.

• The story became shorter and simpler over time.

• Elements that didn’t fit British culture (e.g., "ghosts") were often omitted or changed.

• The meaning remained consistent but the details became distorted.

conclusion of Bartlett (1932) in relation to schema

The study supports Schema Theory by showing that memory is reconstructive—people remember information in a way that makes sense to them based on their cultural background. This proves that schemas influence memory recall and can lead to distortions.

study that talks about the reliability of cognitive processes

Bartlett (1932)

conclusion of Bartlett (1932) in relation to reliability of cognitive provesses

The study supports the idea that memory is unreliable and reconstructive. Instead of recalling events accurately, people fill in gaps based on their schemas, leading to distortions. This proves that cognitive processes, like memory, are not always reliable.

study that talks about reconstructive memory

Bartlett (1932)

conclusion of Bartlett (1932) in relation to reconstructive memory

The study supports the idea that memory is reconstructive. Instead of recalling events accurately, people fill in missing details based on their schemas, leading to distortions. This proves that memory is not a perfect recording but a reconstructed process.

study that talks about bias in decision making

Tversky & Kahneman (1974)

aim of Tversky & Kahneman (1974)

To investigate how anchoring bias influences numerical estimates.

procedure of Tversky & Kahneman (1974)

• Participants were shown a random number (determined by spinning a wheel).

• They were then asked to estimate a factual value (e.g., the percentage of African countries in the UN).

• The number on the wheel was completely random, but participants still used it as a reference for their guess.

results of Tversky & Kahneman (1974)

• When participants saw a high anchor, their estimates were higher.

• When participants saw a low anchor, their estimates were lower.

• This shows that even irrelevant numbers influence our thinking.

conclusion of Tversky & Kahneman (1974) in relation to bias in desision making

The study supports the idea that people rely too much on initial information (anchors) when making decisions. Even when the anchor is random, it still affects judgment. This proves that human thinking is not always rational and is influenced by cognitive biases.

study that talks about emotion and desision making

Brown & Kulik (1977)

aim of Brown & Kulik (1977)

To investigate whether emotionally significant events lead to flashbulb memories.

procedure of Brown & Kulik (1977)

1. 80 American participants (40 white, 40 Black) were interviewed.

2. They were asked if they remembered the assassination of JFK & Martin Luther King Jr..

3. If they said yes, they were asked to describe the memory in detail.

4. They were also asked about a personal emotional event they remembered clearly.

results of Brown & Kulik (1977)

• 90% of participants had vivid memories of JFK’s assassination.

• Black participants had more vivid memories of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination (due to personal relevance).

• Personal emotional events also led to flashbulb memories.

conclusion of Brown & Kulik (1977)

The study supports the idea that emotionally intense events lead to stronger memories. This happens because the brain processes emotional memories differently, making them more detailed and long-lasting. However, these memories can still be influenced by personal significance and cultural factors.

study that talks about Rational (Controlled) Thinking

Tversky & Kahneman (1974)

concusion of Tversky & Kahneman (1974) in relation to Rational (Controlled) Thinking

their research highlights the role of rational thinking as a controlled, deliberate process that can override heuristic-driven biases. By engaging in analytical reasoning, individuals can make more accurate and objective decisions.

study that talks about Intuitive (Automatic) Thinking

Tversky & Kahneman (1974)

conclusion of Tversky & Kahneman (1974) in relation to Intuitive (Automatic) Thinking

demonstrate that intuitive thinking relies on heuristics, enabling fast and efficient decision-making. However, this automatic process often leads to cognitive biases, causing systematic errors in judgment.