Understanding Learning by Cognition in Psychology: A Comprehensive Guide
Have you ever wondered what happens in your brain when you learn something new? If so, you’re not alone – understanding how we learn by cognition has been a subject of interest for many psychologists. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the cognitive processes that underlie learning, including attention, perception, encoding, and retrieval.
The Cognitive Processes of Learning
To start, let’s explore the cognitive processes involved in learning. Attention, for example, is the ability to select and focus on specific stimuli. Imagine walking into a crowded room – you are bombarded with a plethora of sights, sounds, and smells, but you are able to selectively attend to the person you are trying to meet. This is a crucial process in learning, as it allows us to filter out irrelevant information and focus on what’s important.
Perception is another important cognitive process in learning. It is the process of organizing and interpreting sensory information. For example, when you see the word “apple,” your brain perceives the letters as individual elements and combines them to form a word. This process allows us to make sense of the world around us and is necessary for learning new information.
Encoding is the process of storing new information in long-term memory. There are several ways to do this, such as repetition, elaboration, and organization. For example, if you want to remember a list of grocery items, you may repeat them multiple times to yourself. Alternatively, you may organize them into categories such as fruits, vegetables, or dairy. This process allows us to retain information for later retrieval.
Retrieval is the process of accessing information stored in long-term memory. This can be done through recognition or recall. Recognition involves recognizing information that has been previously encountered, while recall involves retrieving information without any cues. For example, recognizing a picture of an apple is easier than recalling the word “apple” without any visual aid.
Examples of Cognitive Learning
To further understand cognitive learning, let’s look at a few examples. One well-known study involved participants watching a video of a basketball game and counting the number of passes made by the team in white. While counting, a person in a gorilla suit walked through the scene. Surprisingly, many participants did not notice the gorilla, as they were too focused on counting passes. This study highlights the importance of attention in the learning process.
Another example involves encoding new vocabulary words. The most effective way to encode new words is through elaboration, which involves making connections with existing knowledge. For example, if you wanted to learn the word “arduous,” you could create a mental picture of climbing a steep mountain, which reinforces the meaning of “difficult.”
Takeaways
Overall, cognitive processes play a crucial role in learning. Attention, perception, encoding, and retrieval all contribute to our ability to learn and understand new information. By understanding these processes, we can optimize our learning strategies and enhance our ability to retain information. Remember to focus your attention, perceive the information accurately, encode it in multiple ways, and practice retrieving it regularly. With these strategies in mind, you can become a more effective learner.
