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Lecture Outline: Information Processing Theories Common Features Development of Memory Types of Memory Factors Influencing Memory Development Basic Processes Strategy Use Content Knowledge. Information Processing Theories Common Features:
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Lecture Outline: Information Processing Theories • Common Features • Development of Memory • Types of Memory • Factors Influencing Memory Development • Basic Processes • Strategy Use • Content Knowledge
Information Processing Theories Common Features: • Cognitive development is viewed as continuous rather than discontinuous
Comparisons are drawn between information processing of computers and that of humans • Computer’s ability to process information is limited by its • Hardware (e.g., memory capacity, speed/efficiency of operations) • Software (e.g., strategies, information available) • Individuals’ thinking is limited by • Memory capacity • Speed/efficiency of thought processes • Availability of relevant strategies and knowledge
Development of Memory Types of Memory • Short-term (working) memory: “Workspace” in which information is actively processed • Can hold and operate on between 1 and 10 items (words, numbers, etc.) for up to a minute • Capacity and speed of operation increases greatly over the course of childhood and adolescence
Long-term memory: Information retained on an enduring basis • Can hold an unlimited amount of information for unlimited periods of time • Includes knowledge and skills • Long-term memory increases over the course of childhood and adolescence
What Factors Influence Memory Development? • Basic Processes • Simple, most frequently used mental activities • Exs: recognizing objects as familiar; recalling facts and procedures; generalizing from one instance/event to another; encoding
Encoding: Process of representing in memory information that draws attention or is considered important
Speed/efficiency of basic processes increases most rapidly during childhood but continues to increase through adolescence
Strategy Use • Strategy: A general plan or set of plans intended to achieve a goal
Specific Memory Strategies • Rehearsal: Repetition of information • Spontaneous use of this strategy emerges around age 5 • Repeat an item as it is presented • Younger children do not typically use cumulative rehearsal (repeating all items in a list each time a new item is added) • When younger children are instructed to use cumulative rehearsal, memory performance improves
Organization: Grouping items on the basis of similarity • By approximately 10-11 years, children tend to recall related items together • When younger children are instructed to use organization, memory performance improves
Elaboration: Creating a meaningful relationship between two items (verbally or visually) • Typically tested using paired-associates procedure • Two words are paired (e.g., bear-blanket) • Test: One word is presented and participant must recall other word • Children rarely use elaboration spontaneously • If instructed to use visual or verbal elaboration, memory performance improves
Content Knowledge • Greater knowledge increases children’s ability to remember new information because they can relate it to information they already know • When children know more about a topic than adults, their memory for new information about the topic is often better than that of adults • Ex: Chi (1978) • Tested memory for novel chessboard arrangements in child chess experts and novice adults
Scripts: A type of knowledge about how some type of everyday event usually goes • Ex: eating at a restaurant; grocery shopping