Goals and Research Methods in Cognitive Psychology.

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4 years ago

In this article, we will Describe the Goals and Research Methods in Cognitive Psychology.

Describe the Goals and Research Methods in Cognitive Psychology.

Research in Cognitive Psychology employs various methods. Each research has a goal achieved through a suitable methodology. Let’s explore the goals of research.

Goals of Research:

The goals of research in cognitive psychology encompass data gathering, data analysis, theory development, hypothesis formulation, testing, and application beyond research settings. Cognitive psychologists aim not only to describe cognition but also to explain its underlying mechanisms. Moving beyond descriptions requires inferring from observations.

Distinctive Research Methods:

Cognitive psychologists use various methods to understand human thinking, including (i) laboratory or other controlled experiments, (ii) psychobiological research, (iii) self-reports, case studies, naturalistic observation, and (iv) computer simulations and artificial intelligence.

i) Laboratory or other Controlled Experiments:

Experiments on Human Behaviour involve controlled settings where researchers manipulate variables to observe cause-and-effect relationships. They use independent and dependent variables and ensure a representative sample for reliable results. By controlling variables, researchers can infer causality and understand the effects of treatments on outcomes.

ii) Psychobiological Research:

Psychobiological research examines how cognitive performance relates to brain events. Researchers use techniques like studying post-mortem brains, brain imaging of individuals with cognitive deficits, and observing brain processes during cognitive tasks. These methods help understand how the brain functions during different cognitive activities.

iii) Self-Reports, Case Studies, and Naturalistic Observation:

Self-reports, case studies, and naturalistic observation are methods used to study cognition in individuals. Researchers gather detailed information about how people think in various contexts. While experimental research tests hypotheses, qualitative methods help formulate hypotheses. These methods are valuable for describing rare events or processes that are hard to measure otherwise.

iv) Computer Simulations and Artificial Intelligence:

Computer simulations and artificial intelligence are crucial in cognitive psychology. They help researchers understand human cognition. Simulation involves programming computers to imitate human functions. Some researchers even create computer models of the human mind. These models spark debates about how the human mind works. Sometimes, it’s hard to differentiate between simulation and artificial intelligence. Combining both approaches is also possible.

Cognitive psychologists expand their knowledge of cognition by studying cognitive science. Cognitive science blends various disciplines like cognitive psychology, psychobiology, artificial intelligence, philosophy, linguistics, and anthropology. Researchers in cognitive psychology apply these interdisciplinary approaches to explore how humans learn and utilize knowledge. They collaborate with other psychologists, including social psychologists focusing on social cognition, psychologists studying motivation and emotion, and engineering psychologists researching human-machine interactions.

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