Information Processing Theories

Information processing is defined as how an individual perceives, analyses, manipulates, uses, and remembers information regularly. Information processing theories evolved out of the American tradition of experimental psychology. Information processing theory is the approach to the study of cognitive development. Its objective is to explain how an individual focuses on information and encodes it into memory. It is based on the theory that humans do not simply respond to stimuli from the environment; instead, they perceive and analyse the information they get. It uses computer processing as a base to research the workings of the human mind (or rather the brain).

 

Introduction to information processing theories

• Information processing is defined as how an individual perceives, analyses, manipulates, uses, and remembers information regularly. Information processing theories evolved out of the American tradition of experimental psychology.
• Information processing theory is the approach to the study of cognitive development. Its objective is to explain how an individual focuses on information and encodes it into memory.
• It is based on the theory that humans do not simply respond to stimuli from the environment; instead, they perceive and analyse the information they get. It uses computer processing as a base to research the workings of the human mind (or rather the brain).
• This process begins with receiving an input termed the stimulus from the environment using various human senses. The stimulus/stimuli (plural) is/are then analysed, described and stored in the memory, which can then be retrieved whenever needed.
• It was initially proposed by George A. Miller in the 1950s and some other American psychologists.

 

Origin of the information processing theories

• During the first half of the 20th century, psychology was dominated by the study of behaviourism which could be directly observed by the psychologists leading them to refer to the inner workings of the human mind as a ‘black box’ – mysterious and unknown.
• However, with the emergence of computers in the 1950s, psychologists found a way to relate the human information processing system metaphorically with computer processing.
• They compared the processes occurring in the human brain with a computer’s processing system like – attention and perception with inputting information into a computer and memory with the storage space.
• George Armitage Miller was the first to introduce the idea of the information processing theories. He was one of the founders of cognition-based studies in psychology.

 

1. Elements of Information processing theory

• Though the elements of information processing theory differ from model to model, there are three basic elements discussed in almost every information processing model in psychology. They are:

• Information storage: The various locations where information is stored in mind in sensory memory, short or long-term memory, semantic memory, episodic memory, etc.
• Cognitive processes: The processes such as perception, coding, recording, chunking, and retrieval that transfer memory among the different stores of information.
• Executive cognition: An individual’s awareness about how information is processed within them.

 

1. Areas of occurrence of information processing

Information processing generally occurs in five areas of basic cognitive changes. They are:

• Attention

• Memory

• Processing Speed

• Organisation of Thinking

• Metacognition

 

Limitations of the information processing theory

Even though many information processing models were introduced throughout human psychology, like any other theory, the information processing theory has its limitations.

• The analogy between computers and the human mind is limited. Taking computer processing as a base to study human information processing has its limitations. Emotions or motivations do not influence a computer’s ability to learn and remember information. In contrast, they have quite an impact on humans.
• Most models assume serial processing like in computers, whereas the human mind can parallel processing.

 

Information processing model of thinking

• An information processing model in psychology emphasises how information perceived via the senses is encoded, stored, retrieved and utilised by the human brain.
• It is a framework used by psychologists to explain and describe mental and cognitive processes.
• In the information processing model in psychology, the steps are said to take place in the following order:

1. Categorisation
2. Pre-processing
3. Response selection
4. Response execution

   Conclusion

   Information processing theories evolved out of the American tradition of experimental psychology. Information processing theory is the approach to the study of cognitive development whose objective is to explain how an individual focuses on information and how it is encoded into memory. With the emergence of computers in the 1950s, psychologists found a way to relate the human information processing system metaphorically with computer processing. Two of the significant information processing models in psychology are – the Atkinson and Shiffrin model and the Baddeley and Hitch Model of Working Memory. In the information processing model in psychology, the steps are said to occur in the following order: Categorisation, Pre-processing, Response selection, and Response execution.