Cognitive Psychology Interview

(revised 1-24-11)

Be sure to frequently ask “Can you tell me what you are thinking about? Can you give me an example? If I could get in your head right now, what would I be experiencing?”

Also, ask “What would MOST PEOPLE say?”

  1. Have you ever heard the phrase “clockwork universe?” Y N
  2. If so, what does it mean?

Most said no. there’s a pattern to the earth, the universe is a mechanical clock governed by the laws of physics.

  1. Think of a clock with a face and dials. Inside the clock are gears which move the dials so that the face tells the time. The inner hidden gears control the behavior of the dials in a mechanical way. Which of these might function as a clockwork?
  2. Cat
  3. earth’s weather
  4. planets moving around the sun the MOST like clockwork
  5. human being

record reactions:

ask that they rank order these 4 things from most to least like a clock:

planets, earth’s weather, cats, humans (don’t like thinking of humans as a machine; unpredictable

alternative that puts humans first (internal processes as gears) (we have a routine)

  1. Which is MOST real? mind, brain, or soul? (circle 1)brain

reaction:

rank order:brain mind soul

which do SCIENTISTS consider most real? BrainWhich do MOST PEOPLE consider most real? brain

  1. How do identify objects when you look at them? Notice the physical features, past experience
  1. how do you identify this table [or some other object in sight]?4 legs, top flat surface (some questioning of the number of legs) (the first thing people think of is 4 legs)
  1. how about a familiar face?Facial features, mem of the face, l-2 distinct features
  1. how about the letters T or Q?past experience, from memory, shapes and lines

  1. To identify something, one must establish some sort of match between the current information and knowledge or past experience. Could this matching process be between the information coming in and ...
  2. a type of picture or image or template?yes

memories of images that help interpret the incoming info

  1. a list of characteristics or features?Yes… list of characteristics

(first template, then feature)

  1. In identifying an object, what is the role of your expectations, or do they play a role?... How about the setting or context? Do they play a role? Give examples.

Yes, they play a role, (banana example) setting: clothing seen in expensive v. thrift shop

Expectation: self-fulfilling prophecy (old/young woman) (ball v. box expectations about shape) (a house has furniture in certain places) (table in a museum may not be IDed as a table)

  1. When you look at something under good lighting, do you see it as it REALLY is? For example, take that [choose an example of a nearby object that can be clearly seen], do we both see basically the same thing when we look at it? Yes/noin most semesters the answer is yes

Would other people, or other animals (as long as they have functioning eyes) see the same thing?Yes/no [usually the answer is yes across semesters]

  1. Do we think in images? Can we use images to think?

Yes, yes

  1. Right now get an image of a family member. [pause]
  2. Who did you get an image of? __family members/pets______

Now get an image of something else. [pause]

  1. What did you get an image of? _[same thing]__ things surrounding them at the moment______
  2. Based on these, what would you say images are like? Can you characterize images in general?Memory or recent conversation

[record]

  1. Which of these characteristics would you say your images have? When you get an image of a chair, which is it similar to?
  2. actually seeing the object? _yes_
  3. a detailed description in words of the thing? _yes_[Yates is dubious about this. In most semesters the answer is no]
  4. a faint copy of the real thing? __yes
  5. (as opposed to a copy) a recreation that I construct and can change? __no
  6. like a photograph? __yes
  7. sound? No/yes__ touch? no__ smell? no__ taste? no__ motion? __no

Of the above choices, which is the BEST characterization of most images? (choose one)

Faint copy,

  1. Do blind people get images? [note if they bring up the “at birth” issue. If they DON’T bring it up, you should ask about it]. What are they like? Are they the same or different than the images of a sighted person?

Typically people bring up the issue of WHEN. Not the same types of images but they get sensations and can imagine things using those senses. Audition, smells, touch

  1. Compare the potential experiences of a person born blind versus a sighted person, both hearing the same detailed description of a brief video. Would their experiences differ OR would the blind person have the same imagined experience as the sighted person?

It would differ… wouldn’t be visual, have to create their own story.

  1. When we read a story or hear a description we often just get images, or "see the events happening." Would the blind person “see” the same thing as a sighted person? ... or something different?

It depends on whether they have had past sight (same) or not (different)

  1. Also consider how to describe the color red to a "born blind" person. Could your description of "red" give them the same experience of red as a sighted person has? What would you say to create the experience of red in a blind person?

They have never seen that red means heat. Difficulty: we can’t tell from words whether our experiences are the same.

  1. How much detail can be present in your best, strongest images?
  1. Are they like a copy of the original? no __
  2. Are they like a good snapshot? yes__
  1. what IS a detail?Adds texture, small, not noticeable, but yes is important because it may be meaningful

Is it something usually relatively small? Not very noticeable? Not important?Mostly yes

  1. Imagine you are in a room where 3-4 people are conversing at once.
  2. Can you tune out everyone but one person? Y
  3. Have you ever PRETENDED to listen to one person while you are ACTUALLY listening to another? Y
  4. Is it possible to listen to TWO speakers at once and hear EVERYTHING they both say? N

comments or examples for a – c you can listen to two and get the gist

  1. What sorts of things attract your attention even when you are concentrating on something? Loud noises, smells, bright flashy things, things that scare or you like or are interested in, something unexpected
  1. Can you do two things at once? Y but not always well
  2. for example:solve rubics cube [or something] and carry on conversation
  1. For the following question, we are going to set aside purely bodily functions like breathing, digestion, your heart beating, etc. Other than that sort of thing, are there any tasks you can perform that require NO attention at all? Y (but somesay no: some require that a tiny bit of attention is always required)

(if Y:)

  1. Of all the tasks your mind carries out, what percent of them require NO attention at all? _20 or below___%
  2. can you give a general characterization of such tasks...daily tasks, tying shoes, (can mess up if not attending), gestures, tics,
  3. or examples?
  1. Agree or disagree: complex tasks require attention, simple tasks require little or no attention.

disagree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 agree (circle a number)a pretty high number

  1. Give an example of a complex task... a simple task. What is the difference between the 2?Complex: solve rubic cube simple: walking, tying shoes,
  1. What is the definition of a table? Flat surface w/ legs to hold things

... bird?Living organisms with features and wings that lays eggs

  1. How does a child acquire the concept of bird? Be as detailed as you can.

Past experiences and being taught, being corrected, comes to understand not everything they see AS a bird is a bird (plane)

Possibility: adult points to a bird and says that’s a bird. Later if the child says bird when it IS a bird, that is reinforced or encouraged by the parent. If they call a plane a bird, that is corrected. “Feedback” from an adult is important.Generally accepted by interviewee