Evaluation of Cognitive Approach

An Evaluation of The Cognitive Approach.

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Evaluation of Cognitive Approach

Advantages

  • The Cognitive Approach has many useful applications. It could be used to improve childcare and education. For example, in Loftus and Palmer's study memory, findings suggested that police officers need to avoid using leading questions when interviewing witnesses, as this may alter the memory of the witnesses.
  • The Cognitive Approach can also illustrate differences in the way that people think. This means it can provide an explanation of how specific cognitive deficits influence behaviour. For example, Baron-Cohen's research suggests that the deficit of lack of theory of mine may cause the behaviours associated with autism.
  • This approach also tends to use scientific, controlled methods. Much of the research is lab based. This is good because it means that cause and effect links can be established. For example, in Loftus and Palmer's study, where the careful controls allowed a cause and effect link between the IV (emotiveness of the critical verb) and the DV (speed estimates in mph) to be made.

Disadvantages

  • The Cognitive Approach may be considered reductionist, as it does not provide a full explanation of human behaviour; it ignores factors such as biological and social contributors. For example, Baron-Cohen's research into autism ignored other issues such as hormone levels.
  • Theories are hard to test because mental processes are hidden from view, and not directly observable. This means that the researcher has to infer thoughts which may involve subjectivity. For example, Savage-Rumbaugh measured language aquisition through the signs shown; but in reality, we can't actually tell what Kanzi or any other bonobo is actually thinking.
  • This approach tends to be lab-based; a problem because it means experimental reductionism may become a problem, along with a lack of ecological validity, meaning the findings of such research are not reflecting real cognitive processing. For example, Baron-Cohen's study on autism took place in controlled conditions, using a task with low mundane realism.

Evaluation

The Cognitive Approach suffers from some similar issues with other approaches; namely, reductionism. While not a big issue on it's own to how common this is, other issues are raised with this approach. The nature of the approach means that we cannot observe mental processes ourselves, which could arguably lead to a bias. However the approach has been shown to be very useful in the past, and it's methods are controlled enough to establish cause and effect.

Comments

Ibrahim - Team GR

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Nice detail! Just what I need - simple reasons but detailed descriptions with Links to core studies! ThankYou.

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