Psychology: Research Methods in Cognitive Level of Analysis
Research Methods in Cognitive Level of Analysis
There are 3 research methods can be used in cognitive level of analysis. They are lab experiments, case studies of patients with brain-damage, and brain imaging techniques. The methods are basically the same methods used in biological level of analysis. These methods are useful depending how the researchers want to study the cognitive process.
One of the most scientific ways to study mental processes is through lab experiments because the high degrees of control allow researchers to isolate a particular component of the cognitive process for study (IV) to test its effect on the DV. An example for this method is the case Craik & Tulving’s levels of processing study test the effects of visual phonetic and semantic
(IV) processing on memory recall. (DV) The experiments involves showing participants a list of
60 words. And then ask them to recall certain words by being shown in 3 questions, each testing a different level of processing. Tests of a) Shallow Processing, b) Phonemic Processing, c)
Semantic Processing. The results were, participants were better able to recall words which had been processed more deeply, which is processed semantically, supporting level of processing theory. This experiments supports this method because it helps us study the level of processing theory in relation to memory. The weakness of lab experiments is that high levels of controls produce artificiality. Aspects of lab experiments which compromise ecological validity are the types of material used, the task undertaken and the location.
Case studies of patients with brain-damage is another method researchers use. Case studies allow researchers to take advantage of naturally-occurring biological events such as brain damage. The cases cannot to copied or repeated so researchers can only study from the past cases. For example the case of Tan, who was unable to produce language (Broca’s aphasia). The autopsy showed that the
There are 3 research methods can be used in cognitive level of analysis. They are lab experiments, case studies of patients with brain-damage, and brain imaging techniques. The methods are basically the same methods used in biological level of analysis. These methods are useful depending how the researchers want to study the cognitive process.
One of the most scientific ways to study mental processes is through lab experiments because the high degrees of control allow researchers to isolate a particular component of the cognitive process for study (IV) to test its effect on the DV. An example for this method is the case Craik & Tulving’s levels of processing study test the effects of visual phonetic and semantic
(IV) processing on memory recall. (DV) The experiments involves showing participants a list of
60 words. And then ask them to recall certain words by being shown in 3 questions, each testing a different level of processing. Tests of a) Shallow Processing, b) Phonemic Processing, c)
Semantic Processing. The results were, participants were better able to recall words which had been processed more deeply, which is processed semantically, supporting level of processing theory. This experiments supports this method because it helps us study the level of processing theory in relation to memory. The weakness of lab experiments is that high levels of controls produce artificiality. Aspects of lab experiments which compromise ecological validity are the types of material used, the task undertaken and the location.
Case studies of patients with brain-damage is another method researchers use. Case studies allow researchers to take advantage of naturally-occurring biological events such as brain damage. The cases cannot to copied or repeated so researchers can only study from the past cases. For example the case of Tan, who was unable to produce language (Broca’s aphasia). The autopsy showed that the