PSYC 4430 Midterm: Cognitive Psychology Exam 1 Notes
Document Summary
Cognitive psychology: asks very simple questions. The faster you can do something, or the more quickly a thought occurs to you, means the stronger it is. Issues relating to the study of cognition science: use laboratory experiments, carefully controlled (contrived) and often artificial. It might not seem realistic, because you are looking at something so small. Ecological validity: complex processes require a reductionist approach. We must reduce processes in order to firmly understand it. History of cognitive psychology: psychology is a new science because it was viewed as non-empirical. Consciousness was not viewed as a serious topic of science, because it cannot be directly observed: fechner and weber. Performed interesting work in psychophysics that encouraged interest in a science of psychology. Wilhelm wundt - established the first psychology lab and journal (1879) Focused on immediate conscious experience, something that is happening right now. G. stanley hall - established the 1st american psychology lab and journal (1883)
