Elizabeth Loftus: Studies of Memory

Are memories reliable?  Can false memories be implanted in your mind? What are the characteristics of memory and how does it really work?
An interview with Loftus in which she describes many aspects of memory and the studies she has conducted.
http://fora.tv/2009/07/14/Elizabeth_Loftus_Whats_the_Matter_with_Memory#chapter_04

Memory and the Eyewitness

An eyewitness has long been the most sought after piece of evidence in the criminal investigation of most crimes.  What was once thought to be so valuable has proven to have it's flaws.  Every year innocent people are convicted of crimes they did not commit, often through the use of eyewitness testimony.  Studies in the field of forensic psychology have shown that the memory is a very tricky phenomenon.  Find out what goes wrong with human memory and what can be done to remedy this situation.
http://www.open2.net/youtube_elizabeth_loftus.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-SBTRLoPuo

Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development

Answer these questions thoroughly on paper - for presentation in class on Thursday, Sept 23rd.

1. Explain the concept of "object permanence".
2. Explain the concept of the "A not B Error".
3. Explain Piaget's "rule of conservation of quantity".
4. Explain what Piaget meant by the term "assimilation".
5. Explain what Piaget meant by the term "accommodation".
6. Explain the concept of "equilibration".
7. How does "disequilibrium" help children in the process of learning?
8 Explain the concept of egocentrism as it relates to Piaget's theory.
9. What is "abstract" thinking?
10. At which stage in Piaget's theory is abstract thought possible?
11. Identify one strength of Piaget's theory.
12. Explain one limitation (or criticsim) of Piaget's theory.


These websites may be of some assistance to you.
http://dante.udallas.edu/edu3327/PowerPoints/Piaget_Introduction.pdf
http://www.learningandteaching.info/learning/piaget.htm
http://ehlt.flinders.edu.au/education/DLiT/2000/Piaget/tests.htm#logical

The Stroop Effect (journal #7)

Explain the Stroop Effect in detail: (this will require a little research on your part...)

• What is the background for this experiment?
• How is the experiment conducted? (explain step by step in as much detail as possible)
• What are the results?
• Why do these results occur?

*Include two pictures in this entry
*Do not copy/paste - restate ideas in your own words as much as possible - site all sources!
*This entry should be at least 250 words in length
*DUE DATE - Friday September 10th

Multitasking - Does Doing More Mean Doing Less?

A study conducted by Stanford University professor Clifford Nass uncovers that people who think they are excellent at "multitasking", in reality, do it very poorly.  On top of that, it may harm their thinking abilities.  To find out why this is so and how the study was performed listen to an interview with the professor.
Listen >>>  http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112334449

The Myth of Multitasking (journal #6)

Answer the following questions after reading the article, "The Myth of Multitasking" by Christine Rosen in The New Atlantis.

1. Why is multitasking considered by many psychologists to be a myth?
2. To what does the term "response selection bottleneck" refer?
3. David Meyer has found that multitasking contributes to the release of stress hormones and adrenaline.  Why is this important?
4. Explain what Russell Podrack found regarding multitasking.
5. What does the author conclude could happen to our culture as a result of increased multitasking?

*Do not copy/post your answers - restate the information in your own words as much as possible.
*DUE DATE - Wednesday September 8th