Introduction
The subfield of psychology discussed in this paper is cognitive psychology, which is the scientific study of mental processes such as attention, perception, memory, and problem-solving. Cognitive psychology is related to the larger field of psychology as it focuses on understanding how people think, process information, and solve problems, which has important implications for various aspects of human behavior (Cheng & Cataldo, 2022). The purpose of this investigation is to examine the origins of cognitive psychology, its relation to the field of psychology, and how it is used in research and application today. The investigation will begin by providing an overview of the history and development of cognitive psychology, followed by an analysis of its relation to other subfields of psychology. Finally, the investigation will discuss the current research and practical applications of cognitive psychology.
Subfield Analysis
The cognitive revolution of the 1950s and 1960s, which opposed behaviorism and emphasized the significance of mental processes in behavior, is where cognitive psychology got its start. Information processing is a fundamental concept in cognitive psychology. According to cognitive psychologists, the brain functions like a computer-like information processing system. They hold that cognitive functions like perception, attention, and memory involve the manipulation of information that is encoded, stored, and retrieved in the brain. Research methods used by cognitive psychologists to study mental processes include experiments, surveys, and observations. They frequently employ computational theories and models to describe and forecast cognitive processes. George Miller, Noam Chomsky, and Ulric Neisser were significant contributors to the growth of cognitive psychology and are known for their seminal works on language processing, memory, and perception (Cheng & Cataldo, 2022). Cheng & Cataldo (2022) also state that Tolman’s experiments and Miller’s work show clearly how neuroscience has influenced psychology, even when psychology was thought of from a behaviorist perspective and greatly contributed to the development of cognitive psychology.
Developmental psychology, social psychology, and neuropsychology are just a few of the other areas of psychology that cognitive psychology is connected to. For instance, developmental psychology, which studies how cognitive processes alter and develop throughout life, places a high priority on cognitive development. Researchers in social psychology look at how cognitive processes affect social behavior and attitudes, including how people judge others and make decisions. The field of neuropsychology studies the connection between brain activity and mental functions, such as how memory loss or language impairment results from injury to particular brain regions.
Today, cognitive psychology is used in a variety of studies and real-world situations. For instance, researchers explore the cognitive processes involved in decision-making and problem-solving, study learning and memory processes, create interventions for people with cognitive impairments, and more using the principles of cognitive psychology. Based on the theories of cognitive psychology, cognitive behavioral therapy is a common treatment strategy for mental health disorders in clinical settings. To enhance learning, design, and decision-making processes, cognitive psychology principles are also applied in industries like education, marketing, and human factors engineering. Research studies in cognitive psychology today look into things like working memory, language processing, and attentional processes.
Psychological Research
Psychology relies on the scientific method to ensure that research is carried out in a methodical and impartial manner. A hypothesis must be developed, data must be gathered and analyzed, and conclusions must be made based on the evidence (Ward, 2019). Research findings that can be replicated and tested are made possible by this method. The scientific method also minimizes the possibility of bias and error while promoting transparency and accountability in research (Ward, 2019). A scientific method theory offers researchers a course of investigation that can direct the hunt for scientific phenomena and the development of explanatory theories to explain these phenomena (Ward, 2019). This method provides minimal guidance on how to create theories, and evaluation is primarily concerned with empirical testing.
Research Question
The research question is as follows: How does attentional control affect memory retrieval in older adults?
Given the rising global population of older adults and the potential effects of memory decline on their daily functioning and quality of life, the research question of how attentional control affects memory retrieval in older adults is appropriate and relevant. It is believed that attentional control processes can change with age and negatively affect memory retrieval in older people. For instance, a study by Spreng & Turner (2019) revealed that cognitive aging affects brain function in senior adults. The answer to this research will contribute to a better understanding of how aging impacts cognitive function.
Scientific Method
By planning and carrying out an empirical study, psychologists would use the scientific method to investigate this research question and form a hypothesis. They would then choose a sample of senior citizens and give them tests to gauge their attentional control and memory recall skills. After gathering the information, it would be analyzed to see if there was any correlation between older adults’ attentional control and memory retrieval. For instance, using a similar methodology, Spreng & Turner (2019) studied cognitive aging and brain function in older adults. The authors highlight the importance of understanding the changes to create effective interventions to improve cognitive performance among older people. Similarly, Pot et al. (2018) discovered that enhanced attentional control is seen when various languages are used in various contexts to develop memory. The authors investigate the relationship between the intensity of multilingual language use and cognitive behavior in older adults. Furthermore, Leyland et al. (2019) also studied cognitive function in older people and the impact of cycling on it.
Following that, peer-reviewed articles published in reputable journals in the field of psychology to gauge the credibility of the sources were selected for this study. Moreover, the author’s background and whether they had a track record of conducting thorough research were also considered. For instance, the study by Leyland et al. (2019) was published in a respected psychology journal and studied the impact of cycling on cognitive function in older adults. Meanwhile, research by Pot et al. (2018) was published in an international peer-reviewed scientific journal and contributed to the impact of attentional control on cognitive behavior in adults. The article by Spreng & Turner (2019) also was published in a scientific psychological journal and provides findings on cognitive aging and its impact on brain function in seniors.
Relevance to the research question, methodological rigor, author credibility, and recentness of the sources were the criteria used to assess the applicability of sources. For example, Leyland et al. (2019) used a randomized controlled trial design to examine the effects of cycling on cognitive function in older adults. The research question is also directly related to the study by Pot et al., which examined the effects of multilingual language use on cognitive performance in a sample of multilingual older adults. Meanwhile, Spreng & Turner (2019) systematically reviewed and critically evaluated the literature on cognitive aging. They then used a synthesis approach to integrate the findings from the studies into their hypothesis.
Conclusion
Cognitive psychology is a fundamental subfield of psychology that has made significant contributions to the understanding of how the human mind processes information. This investigation examined cognitive psychology as a subfield and its significance to psychology as a whole. The paper looked at the history of cognitive psychology, how it relates to other subfields, and how it is currently used in both academic and real-world contexts. Moreover, the value of the scientific method in psychology and applied it to a cognitive psychology research question was also mentioned. The sources used in this report were credible and relevant to the research question and provided more information about the connection between attention and memory.
The main research question centered on the connection between attention and memory. Investigating the effects of various attentional training modalities on memory performance may be one future line of inquiry in this field. Researchers might, for instance, investigate whether memory performance is enhanced by attentional training programs created to strengthen particular attentional processes, such as sustained attention or selective attention.
Additional studies might examine how age, individual differences, or various learning contexts affect people’s attention and memory functions. Researchers might, for instance, investigate whether older adults have distinct attentional and memory processes from younger adults or whether using particular learning strategies improves attentional and memory processes in particular situations. The relationship between attention and memory has a wide range of potential future directions, and more research in this field will help us better understand these crucial cognitive processes and how they affect human functioning.
References
Cheng, T. & Cataldo, A. (2022). Touch and Other Somatosensory Senses. In F. De Brigard & W. Sinnott-Armstrong (Eds.), Neuroscience and Philosophy (pp. 211-240). MIT Press.
Ward, T. (2019). Why theory matters in correctional psychology. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 48, 36-45. Web.
Spreng, R. N. & Turner, G. R. (2019). The shifting architecture of cognition and brain function in older adulthood. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 14(4). Web.
Leyland, L., Spencer, B., Beale, N., Jones, T., & van Reekum, C. M. (2019). The effect of cycling on cognitive function and well-being in older adults. PLos ONE, 14(2). Web.
Pot, A., Keijzer, M., & Bot, K. D. (2018). Intensity of multilingual language use predicts cognitive performance in some multilingual older adults. Brain Science, 8(5). Web.