Introduction to Cognitive Psychology

Foundations of Cognitive Psychology

• Visual media and photographic credits for the chapter introduction are attributed to Graham Monro/gm photographics/Photolibrary/Getty.

• Chapter 1 serves as an introduction to the discipline of Cognitive Psychology, outlining fundamental inquiry questions regarding mental processes and empirical study.

Core Conceptual and Research Questions

• Understanding the definition and historical progression of the discipline:

  • What is cognitive psychology?

  • How did cognitive psychology develop as an academic field?

• Theoretical approaches to mental processes:

  • How have psychologists historically and modernly approached the study of cognition?

• Empirical methodology and observation:

  • What types of research methods are useful in the study of cognition?

  • What specific behaviors do psychologists observe in order to study and infer underlying cognitive processes?