Cognitive Approach

This document includes the main topics, content headings and specific content that
could be asked on Paper 1.

Note that the command terms may vary, as may some of the wording.

SAQs ERQs
[Describe; Outline; Explain] [Discuss; Evaluate; Contrast; To what extent]

Cognitive Processing:

Describe/Outline/Explain one model of Discuss/Evaluate/Contrast one (or two)

memory. model(s) of memory.

Describe/Outline/Explain one study related Discuss/Evaluate/Contrast studies related to

to one model of memory. one model of memory.

Describe/Outline/Explain the multi-store

model of memory.

Describe/Outline/Explain one study related

to the multi-store model of memory.
SAQ only
Describe/Outline/Explain the working
memory model.

Describe/Outline/Explain one study related

to the working memory model.

Describe/Outline/Explain schema theory. Discuss/Evaluate schema theory.

Describe/Outline/Explain one study related Discuss/Evaluate studies investigating

to schema theory. schema theory.

Describe/Outline/Explain cognitive
schema.
SAQ only
Describe/Outline/Explain one study related
to cognitive schema.

Describe/Outline/Explain one theory of Discuss/Evaluate one theory of thinking and

thinking and decision-making. decision-making.

Describe/Outline/Explain one study related Discuss/Evaluate research into thinking and

to thinking and decision-making. decision-making.

Describe/Outline/Explain one example of

rational (controlled) thinking. SAQ only

Describe/Outline/Explain one example of

intuitive (automatic) thinking.

Describe/Outline/Explain one research Discuss/Evaluate/Contrast one or more

method used to study cognitive research methods used to study cognitive
processing. processing.

Describe/Outline/Explain one ethical Discuss/Evaluate/Contrast one or more

consideration relevant to studying ethical considerations used to study
cognitive processing. cognitive processing.

Reliability of Cognitive Processing

Describe/Outline/Explain one study one Discuss/Evaluate the reliability of one

the reliability of one cognitive process. cognitive process.
Discuss/Evaluate/Contrast studies on the
reliability of one cognitive process.

Describe/Outline/Explain reconstructive Discuss/Evaluate reconstructive memory.

memory.

Describe/Outline/Explain one study related Discuss/Evaluate research related to

to reconstructive memory. reconstructive memory.

Describe/Outline/Explain one bias in Discuss/Evaluate one or more biases in

thinking and decision-making. thinking and decision-making.

Describe/Outline/Explain one study into Discuss/Evaluate research into one or more

one bias in thinking and decision-making. biases in thinking and decision-making.

Describe/Outline/Explain one research Discuss/Evaluate/Contrast one or more

method used to investigate the reliability research methods used to investigate the
of cognitive processing. reliability of cognitive processing.

Describe/Outline/Explain one ethical Discuss/Evaluate/Contrast one or more

consideration relevant to studying the ethical considerations relevant to studying
reliability of cognitive processing. the reliability of cognitive processing.

Emotion and Cognition

Describe/Outline/Explain the influence of Discuss/Evaluate the influence of emotion

emotion on one cognitive process. on one cognitive process.

Describe/Outline/Explain how one study Discuss/Evaluate/Contrast research related

demonstrates the influence of emotion on to the influence of emotion on one
one cognitive process. cognitive process.

Describe/Outline/Explain one research Discuss/Evaluate/Contrast one or more

method used to study the influence of research methods related to the influence
emotion on one cognitive process. of emotion on one cognitive process.
Describe/Outline/Explain one ethical Discuss/Evaluate/Contrast one or more
consideration relevant to studying the ethical considerations related to the
influence of emotion on one cognitive influence of emotion on one cognitive
process. process.

HL Extension [Processing in a Digital World] ERQ Only:

▸ Discuss the influence of digital technology on one or more cognitive processes.
▸ Discuss the influence of digital technology on the reliability of one or more cognitive
processes.
▸ Discuss the positive and negative effects of modern technology on one or more
cognitive processes.
▸ Discuss positive effects of digital technology on one or more cognitive processes.
▸ Discuss one or more negative effects of digital technology on cognitive processes.
▸ To what extent does technology have a positive effect on cognitive processes?
▸ Evaluate one or more methods used to study the interaction between technology
and cognitive processes.
▸ Contrast the positive and negative modern technology has on one or more cognitive
processes.
▸ Discuss the use of one method used to study the influence of technology on
cognitive processes.
▸ Discuss the use of one method used to study the influence of technology on the
reliability of cognitive processes.
▸ Discuss positive and/or negative effects of digital technology on emotion and
cognition.
The word ‘reliability’ could also appear in these questions: consider how you might tweak
your focus in your response.
Even though it could, it’s difficult to see how you could be asked about emotion here.