PSY270H5 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Franciscus Donders, Wilhelm Wundt, Hal Light Utility Helicopter
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Cognitive psychology: studying the mind (5: cognitive psychology: the branch of psychology concerned with the scientific study of the mind. Studying the mind: early work in cognitive psychology. 1800s believed that the mind could not be studied: it"s not possible for the mind to study itself", properties of the mind can"t be measured". Donders" pioneering experiment: how long does it take to make a decision: dutch physiologist franciscus donders, conducted first cognitive psychology" experiment. Interested in how long it takes to make a decision. Measured reaction time (how long it takes to respond to presentation of a stimulus) Mental responses can"t be measured directly; must be inferred: when measuring reaction time, measured relationship b/w presentation of stimulus and participant"s response i. inferred how long mental response took from the reaction time. Ebbinghaus"s memory experiment: what is the time-course of forgetting: wanted to know how information is lost over time. Presented nonsense syllables to himself one at a time: ex.
