Cognitive psychology

From the Author - I have written this book primarily because I have mouths to feed and bills to pay. However, I thought I may as well write it with an educational purpose, and I have done this with three kinds of students in mind. The first is the complete newcomer to psychology who doesn't know what cognitive psychology is, let alone having to write essays on the subject. I will tell you what it is, how it is studied, and what the most important introductory issues are. I have tried to explain the material in such a way that you will no longer have to wrestle your way through a mass of incomprehensible psychological jargon. All terms are explained clearly and many examples are given. The second type of student is one who has studied some psychology before but wants to get to grips with the crucial issues that are most likely to be covered in the first year of their course. I tell you what you need to know to get you through your course. The third type of student is the one who hasn't attended many lectures and now finds themselves staring into a black hole or examination hell. This text will help you cram all the necessary information into that hedonistic brain of yours! Since cognitive psychology and the psychology experiment often go hand-in-hand, I spell out the report writing process for you. I list the most common mistakes students make and I tell you why they are mistakes. I also show you how to write a report you can be proud of. Finally, it's worth saying that I have included the topic of connectionism in the book and this is because (a) it is a popular new approach in cognitive psychology and (b) few texts give a meaningful introduction to it. I have also included the study of cognition and emotion, and this is because (a) it is a growth area in psychology and (b) it is what I research and I like writing about it. Finally, finally, I would like to receive emails from people who feel that the book has helped them get through their first year in some way (efulcher@aol.com), or from anyone with (legal) suggestions as to how the book could be improved.