Psychology Investigated: The effects of doodling on concentration and memory.
Cognitive Approach
Psychology Notes
A Level/AS Level/O Level
Cognitive Approach
The Cognitive Approach: Doodling Your Way to Better Focus and Memory
The Cognitive Approach in psychology focuses on how we think, process information, and make decisions. It's like exploring the inner workings of our mental computer! This approach is especially useful for understanding how we learn, remember, and solve problems.
1. The Cognitive Approach: A Quick Overview
-Focuses on mental processes: This approach delves into how we perceive, attend to, and process information from the world around us. It's not just about what we do, but how our brains work to make those actions possible. Think of it like understanding the software that runs our mental computer.
-Information Processing Model: This model views the mind as a series of stages where information is processed. Imagine a computer with different programs that handle different tasks. We can see how information flows from our senses, through our perception, and into our memory, impacting our thoughts and behaviors.
-Emphasis on internal processes: While other approaches might focus on external factors like childhood experiences or the environment, the cognitive approach prioritizes what's happening inside our minds. It's about understanding the internal processes that drive our thoughts and actions.
2. Doodling: More Than Just Scribbling
Doodling is often seen as a mindless activity, something we do when bored or distracted. But the cognitive approach sheds light on a different side of doodling - its potential to actually enhance focus and memory!
3. Psychology Investigated: Doodling and Concentration
-Study 1: Remember This! In a classic study, participants were asked to listen to a mundane phone conversation while either doodling or sitting still. The doodlers were significantly better at remembering details from the conversation compared to those who didn't doodle. This suggests that doodling can improve attention and memory recall.
-Why does doodling help? Think of it like a mental "release valve." Doodling provides a low-level, non-demanding task for your brain to do while you're listening or concentrating. This keeps your mind active and prevents it from getting overwhelmed or wandering. It helps you stay engaged with the information at hand.
-Real-World Example: If you find yourself getting bored or distracted during a lecture, start doodling! It might be the key to absorbing more information and remembering it later.
4. Doodling and Memory: More Than Just a Trick
-Study 2: The Memory Boost: Another study found that doodling while learning new information led to better memory performance, even when tested a week later. The participants who doodled were able to recall more information compared to those who didn't.
-The Explanation: While research is still ongoing, it's believed that doodling enhances memory because it strengthens the link between information and the visual context it's learned in. It's like having a mental "picture" of the information that makes it easier to access later.
-Real-World Example: If you're studying for an exam, try doodling simple patterns or diagrams related to the concepts you're learning. This can help you encode the information in a more visual way, making it easier to remember.
5. Doodling - A Valuable Tool for Learning:
By examining doodling through the lens of the cognitive approach, we discover a surprising truth: doodling can be a valuable tool for improving concentration, enhancing memory, and boosting learning. Next time you're listening to a lecture or studying for an exam, don't be afraid to unleash your inner doodler!
Bonus Notes
Doodling and Cognition: A Critical Analysis
1. Doodling's Influence on Concentration and Memory:
Research suggests that doodling can enhance concentration and memory for certain tasks, particularly in situations involving low-level processing. Cognitive theories like the "idle mind" hypothesis suggest doodling prevents mind-wandering, freeing up cognitive resources for the task. The "dual-processing theory" suggests doodling engages a separate, non-demanding cognitive stream, allowing primary task processing to be more efficient. Studies by Sun et al. (2013) found doodlers outperformed non-doodlers in recall tasks during a monotonous lecture, supporting these theories.
2. Methodology in Doodling Research:
Most studies utilize controlled laboratory experiments, employing between-subjects designs with random assignment to doodle/no-doodle groups. Strengths include controlled variables, allowing for clear conclusions about causality. Limitations include the artificial setting, potentially influencing participant behavior. Biases include the "Hawthorne effect", where participants may behave differently due to awareness of being observed, and demand characteristics, where participants may guess the study's purpose and act accordingly.
3. Ecological Validity of Doodling Research:
The ecological validity of laboratory findings remains questionable. While studies show doodling benefits in controlled environments, it's unclear if these benefits translate to real-world scenarios. Environmental factors, task complexity, and individual differences can all influence doodling's effects. Future research should focus on naturalistic settings and diverse populations to assess real-world implications.
4. Mechanisms Underlying Doodling's Benefits:
Perceptual explanations suggest doodling activates visual-motor processing, enhancing alertness and attention. Attentional theories propose doodling serves as a "regulatory mechanism", preventing boredom and facilitating focus. Empirical evidence like Jackson et al. (2014), which found doodlers displayed more sustained attention and reduced mind-wandering, supports these mechanisms.
5. Implications for Educational Practices:
Research on doodling suggests its potential to enhance learning and recall in educational contexts. Teachers can encourage mindful doodling during lectures or passive learning activities, allowing students to engage with the material while staying focused. Students can utilize doodling as a study tool, enhancing comprehension and memory retention. However, more research is needed to establish optimal doodling strategies and specific learning contexts benefiting from this technique.