1) Human beings are information processors and that mental representations guide behaviour Means:
psychologists see the mind as a complex machine
information is examined from the outside world and is received and encoded
storage individual
COMPUTER ANALOGY: the human mind is conceived to be similar to a computer TOP DOWN PROCESSING: how the brain makes use of information that has already been brought into the brain by one or more sensory systems BOTTOM UP PROCESSING: input also known as data driven processing
Supporting studies: Schema theory
2) Mental processes can and should be studied scientifically by developing theories and by using a variety of research methods. Means:
testable theories can be developed and derived from unobservable cognitive processes
theories can be tested using a scientific research method