Research Methods in Cognitive Psychology

Overview

• Various research methods are utilized in cognitive psychology, each with strengths and weaknesses.
• Common methods include experiments (lab, field, and quasi), case studies, interviews, questionnaires, and observations.

Cognitive Processing

Lab Experiment

• Strengths:
  • High control over variables; reliability and replicability due to standardized procedures.
  • Allows for the establishment of cause and effect relationships.
• Weaknesses:
  • Low ecological validity; artificial settings may lead to unnatural behaviors.
  • Possibility of demand characteristics affecting results.
• Supporting Study: Peterson and Peterson
  • Conducted in a controlled environment with standardized procedures and manipulation of independent variables.
  • Random assignment of participants and potential use of control groups.
  • Investigated short-term memory duration by varying time intervals between hearing and recalling trigrams.

Case Study

• Strengths:
  • Rich, detailed data collection that increases validity.
  • High ecological validity due to natural settings.
• Weaknesses:
  • Time-consuming and hard to generalize due to small sample size.
• Supporting Study: HM Milner 1966
  • Detailed longitudinal study of patient HM, observing memory functioning over time.
  • Collection of multiple data points from various sources.
  • Provided insights into the role of the hippocampus in memory formation.

Reliability of Cognitive Processes

Lab Experiment

• Strengths:
  • Similar to earlier points on lab experiments.
• Supporting Study: Traversky and Kahnemann
  • Participants guessed sums quickly, minimizing distractions.
  • Examined quick thinking processes (System 1).

Quasi Experiment

• Strengths:
  • Natural participant groups increase ecological validity.
  • High control over extraneous variables.
• Weaknesses:
  • Bias due to naturally formed groups.
  • Uncertain cause and effect relationships.
• Supporting Study: Bartlett
  • Explored reconstructive memory through manipulation of independent variables over time.

Emotion and Cognition

Natural Experiment

• Strengths:
  • Control over extraneous variables in a lab setting.
  • Allows association but not cause and effect determination.
• Weaknesses:
  • Low ecological validity; artificial settings.
• Supporting Study: Sharot et al
  • Examined the brain's response to 9/11 memories using fMRI.

Questionnaire

• Strengths:
  • Cost-effective and ethical.
  • Can gather large, reliable quantitative data.
• Weaknesses:
  • Potential for socially desirable responses.
  • Open questions can lead to valid but less detailed data.
• Supporting Studies: Brown and Kulik (1977), Conway et al 1994
  • Explored flashbulb memory formation and personal relevance through structured questions.

Ethical Considerations in Cognitive Research

• Key Considerations:
  • Informed consent, right to withdraw, confidentiality, debriefing, protection from harm.
• Case Studies:
  • Issues with informed consent and right to withdraw due to participants with memory impairments.
• Experiments:
  • Need for debriefing to avoid demand characteristics.
  • Protect participants from harm, especially in emotionally charged studies.
• Supporting Studies:
  • KF/HM, Brewer and Treyens, Anderson and Pichert, among others.

Writing the Essay

1. Introduction to common research methods and ethical considerations.
2. Discuss characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses of selected research methods.
3. Analyze supporting studies and their use of research methods and ethical considerations.
4. Conclusion with overall evaluation of methods and ethics.