Discuss how and why particular research methods are used at the cognitive level of analysis

Experiments
This is done by observing participants in a controlled environment. All variables are controlled, and one variable is manipulated. If this is done, we can see what effect the experimental variable has on our cognitive processes. The manipulation of a variable not only provides insight into the causation of an experiment, ''but of the nature and depth of its influence. ''This research method is used because a well-controlled experiment is the only research method that can show a cause and effect relationship. This can explain causation behind cognitive processes, where the presence of one variable changes the brain’s processing. Experiments only clarify theoretical applications, and represent artificial situations. A single experiment in the cognitive level of analysis lacks ecological validity. It cannot be generalized outside of the study conditions.

Asch conformity experiments
Subjects were seated in a room with experimenters, asked to compare three lines. First, independent variable was whether the experimenters provided the correct response or an incorrect response. When experimenters provided incorrect response, subjects produced a greater tendency to conform to the incorrect answer. When this effect was observed, Asch controlled this variable, but then decided to manipulate others. E.g. number of experimenters in the room (1-15). 1-3 cohorts have virtually no influence. Also, a room full of cohorts where only one provided the correct answer. This dramatically decreased the tendency to conform. This experiment not only showed a cause and effect relationship, but provided insight into the nature of this relationship.

'''Asch conformity experiments don't work, that's social psych. '''

''I concur; alack, I am trying to fill in this worksheet for my IB Psych class (SCHS GO HAWKS) and from what I've gathered, this experiment would work only for social psychology. Sorry to disappoint the eager and studious fleets of youths, but this is wrong. What bozo thought this was for cognitive????!! A better experiment to indicate a cognitive ethical considerations related blah blah blah would be about deception, say, Elizabeth Loftus' experiment concerning leading and misleading cues about car accidents. The participants did not know it was an experiment, and were thus deceived. This can double for the cognitive perspective, for recall due to misleading information ("Was the killer's hat red?" versus "Did the killer have anything on his/her head?") Silence will fall when the question is asked. ''