Evaluate+schema+theory+with+reference+to+research+studies


 * Schema theory (A cognitive process)**

__** Definition **__ Schema theory: gognitive theory about information processing Cognitive schema: networks of knowledge, beliefs and expectations about particular aspects of the world

__Schemas__ - They can describe how specific knowledge is organized and stored in memory so that it can be accessed and used when it is needed -This idea is based on the assumption that humans are active processors of information -If information is missing, the brain fills in the blanks based on existing schemas, or it simply invents someting that seems to fit in. => This can result in mistakes **(Distortions)**

-Lots of research has supported the idea that schemas affect cognitive processes, such as memory. -The theory is quite useful for understanding how people categorize information, interpret stories, and make inference -The theroy is also useful for unerstandng of memory distortions, and social cognition.
 * __Evaluation of schema theory__**

__** =>Limitation of schema theory **__ 1. The theory is not clear how schemas are acquired in the first place. 2. The theory is not entirely cleary how they actually influence cognitive processes.

__**Evaluate the schema theory with reference to research studies**__
 * Pros:**
 * Help understand how people categorize/interpret information
 * Help understand memory distortions
 * Help understand social cognition to explain prejudice and stereotyping
 * Cons:**
 * Not clear //how// schemas are acquired in the first place
 * Not clear //how// they influence schema theory
 * Too vague to be useful[[image:http://hof.povray.org/images/office-13.jpg width="318" height="221" align="right"]]

__//** Research studies: **//__ –> **//Brewer and Treyen (1981)// – The office experiment:** This is clearly an experiment and in an artificial setting, but the participants were not aware at the time of the procedure, that they were taking part in a study so there behaviour was quite natural. Similarly with Loftus’ study on weapons focus. Participants listened to an argument whilst waiting to start an experiment. Again the setting was artificial and there was full control over the IV (blood soaked knife or pen). However, again the participants were unaware of the procedure so again their response would have been natural.
 * Tested memory for objects in an office that 30 participants had waited in individually
 * Found that the participants’ “office schema” //did// affect their recall.
 * Expected objects were recalled well/invented (e.g. books, pens).
 * Unexpected objects were often not remembered at all

–>**//Galambas and Rips (1982)//**
 * Showed that when people make a quick judgement about something, they answer more rapidly when the action is typical for the schema than if not.

->Reconstructive Memory: Bartlett (1932)

 * Aims: Investigate the way that memory stores meaningful information**
 * Procedure:** Ps presented with a story //The War of the Ghosts//. Ps were asked to recall the story repeatedly at different time intervals: minutes, days, months and years.
 * Findings:** The recalled story became shorter, more coherent, more conventional, and more cliched.
 * Conclusion:** Memory is //reconstructive//, and people try to make memories fit in with whatever personal schema they have.
 * Strength:** One of the first experiments to study complex memories; provides evidence for //reconstructive// memory and stimulated much further research
 * Weakness 1:** Results may be due to demand characteristics
 * Weakness 2:** Folk tale is written in an unusual style, and so is not representative of everyday memory tasks.

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