1. Cognitive Approach
What are the main assumptions of the Cognitive Approach?
Write these on the wallboards
Use the pictures to help you
You should know these from your homework

2. Mediational Processes and the Cognitive Approach

3. The role of schema
Read the information on Schemas from your Approaches pack
Write 5 (1 mark) questions on your MWB which you could ask someone on schema from the information. Make sure you know the answers
Swap boards with a peer
How could the concept of Schema explain why some individuals have depression?

4. Theoretical and computer models
Theoretical models are descriptive versions of how some aspect of human behaviour works, which may be represented visually
Example of a theoretical model that attempts to explain how our memory works
Computer models
The Cognitive Approach also uses Computer models where the mind is compared to a computer suggesting there are similarities in the way information is processed
These models use the concepts of
A central processing unit (Brain)
Coding (to turn information into useful concepts)
Stores (to hold information)

5. Theoretical and computer models
Wallboards Cognitive Psychologists study and explain mental processes through theoretical and computer models Claire is learning content for her mini mock. She read about characteristics of OCD in lesson earlier last week where she was able to discuss them (Short term memory). She cannot remember them now. She reads over her revision cards. Claire then remembers them them in her exam a few days later (Long Term memory). Write on MWB’s: What would be the input, process and output in this example?

6. Discussion Does this accurately represent the process?
Do we know what is actually happening in Claire’s Brain?
No….So we are inferring
We have to make inferences about the processes within the mind
How could modern science and technology help us scientifically measure mental processes?

7. Cognitive Neuroscience
In the Past 20 years advances in brain imaging techniques such as fmri and PET scans scientists have been able to observe the neurological basis of mental processes Memory- from :06 Brain Finger Printing Cognitive Neuroscience and development-

8. Some research from cognitive neuroscience Eleanor McGuire et al (2000) – London Taxi Drivers
The aim of the study was to investigate the function of the hippocampus in spatial memory.
The participants for this study were 16 healthy, right-handed male licensed London taxi drivers.
The taxi drivers were compared with the MRI scans of 50 healthy right-handed males who did not drive taxis.
The first main findings of the research were that the hippocampi of taxi drivers were significantly larger relative
to those of control subjects.
The second main finding was that hippocampal volume correlated with the amount of time spent as a taxi driver
(i.e. the longer the participant had been working, the bigger his hippocampus was).

9. Exam question practice
In a laboratory study of problem-solving, cognitive psychologists asked participants to solve problems presented in different colours of ink. They found that it took longer to solve problems presented in green ink, than it did to solve problems presented in other colours. They inferred that the mental processing of problems is made more difficult when a problem is presented in green ink.
Explain what is meant by inference referring to the study(4 marks)
Finished? Turn to the back of your pack and choose another Cognitive question to answer