Question

Carolina wants to investigate how mental processes, such as attention, affect the amount of time that a child will work on a difficult task. Carolina's research is most similar to the research approach taken by who helped develop a. Rogers; humanistic psychology b. Watson; behaviorism c. Miller; cognitive psychology d. Wertheimer; Gestalt theory

Short answer

Carolina's research, which focuses on mental processes like attention affecting the time a child spends on a difficult task, is most similar to the research approach taken by Miller, who helped develop cognitive psychology.

Step-by-step solution

Review Each Approach

Carolina's research focuses on mental processes and their influence on a child's behavior (i.e., working on a difficult task). Review the approaches and theories of the listed psychologists: a. Rogers: Humanistic psychology focuses on human potential, self-actualization, and personal growth. b. Watson: Behaviorism studies observable behavior and its relationship to environmental stimuli. c. Miller: Cognitive psychology focuses on mental processes, such as perception, memory, thinking, and problem-solving. d. Wertheimer: Gestalt theory studies the holistic nature of the human mind, emphasizing the importance of the organization and structure in cognitive processes. #Step 2: Compare Carolina's Research to Each Approach#

Compare Research

Compare the focus of Carolina's research (mental processes such as attention and their effect on the duration of working on task) with each psychological approach: a. Rogers: While humanistic psychology emphasizes personal growth, it does not specifically focus on mental processes or their effect on behavior; this would not be the approach Carolina's research aligns with. b. Watson: Behaviorism focuses on observable behavior, not mental processes; hence, this is not the best choice for Carolina's research. c. Miller: Cognitive psychology directly focuses on mental processes and their relationship with behavior. This is most in line with Carolina's research. d. Wertheimer: Gestalt theory takes a holistic approach to cognitive processes, but it does not directly focus on the influence of mental processes like attention on specific behaviors. #Step 3: Identify the Most Appropriate Research Approach#

Choose the Most Appropriate Approach

Based on the comparison of each psychologist's research approach with Carolina's research topic (mental processes and their effects on behavior), the most appropriate research approach is: c. Miller; cognitive psychology

Key concepts

Mental Processes

Mental processes are the activities of the brain that contribute to our understanding, perception, and interpretations of the world around us. These processes include thinking, memory, perception, reasoning, and problem-solving. They are the unseen mechanisms that come into play every day as we perceive and interpret stimuli, make decisions, and solve problems.

Cognitive psychology, pioneered by scholars like George A. Miller, primarily focuses on these processes. It delves into how we take in information, process it, and how this information influences our behavior. For example, mental processes help us decide how to react when asked a question, whether simple or complex.

Cognitive psychologists use various experiments and methodologies to explore how mental processes work. Carolina's research, which examines how mental processes such as attention impact the time a child spends on a task, aligns with this aspect of cognitive psychology. Through understanding mental processes, we gain insights into how cognition affects task completion and decision-making among different individuals.

Attention in Psychology

Attention is a cognitive process that allows us to focus on specific stimuli or tasks in our environment while ignoring others. It is essential for carrying out daily activities efficiently and effectively. There are several types of attention, including selective attention, divided attention, focused attention, and sustained attention.

Selective attention refers to focusing on one particular task among numerous stimuli, while divided attention involves multi-tasking. Focused attention is about concentrating on a singular task, and sustained attention pertains to maintaining consistent focus over time. Each type plays a crucial role in task performance and requires varying degrees of cognitive resources.

The research Carolina is conducting explores how attention, a core component of cognitive processes, influences children's ability to remain persistent on challenging tasks. By understanding attention, we can better identify strategies to enhance task performance, such as optimizing the environment to reduce distractions and improve focus.

Child Behavior and Task Performance

Children's behavior and task performance are significant areas of interest in cognitive psychology. Factors such as attention span, motivation, cognitive development, and mental processing abilities significantly affect how children engage with tasks. When exploring child behavior, researchers aim to identify patterns that determine success in task completion and how mental processes influence these patterns.

Carolina's research is particularly focused on how mental processes like attention play a role in how long a child focuses on difficult tasks. Understanding these dynamics aids in developing educational strategies and interventions that can help children perform better in academic settings.

Effective task performance in children often depends on their internal cognitive cues and external environmental factors. By studying cognitive psychology, educators and psychologists can implement strategies that bolster children's performance by improving attention, creating supportive learning environments, and developing techniques tailored to individual cognitive needs.