Discuss the influence of technology on one or more cognitive processes.

Refer to the paper 1 section B assessment criteria when awarding marks. These can be found under the “Your tests” tab > supplemental materials. 

The command term “discuss” requires candidates to offer a considered review of the influence of technology on cognitive processes.

Technology is a broad term that includes the use of computers, the Internet and social media, mobile phones, video games, and virtual reality.

Relevant studies may include, but are not limited to:

• Sparrow et al.’s (2011) study of transactive memory
• Rosen et al (2011, 2013) on the effect of multi-tasking on memory recall
• Mueller and Oppenheimer (2014) on computer assisted notetaking and memory
• Storm et al (2016) on the Google effect
• Blacker et al (2014) on the effect of video games on visual working memory
• Swing et al (2010) on the effect of screen time on attention
• Kaspersky Lab’s (2015) study on digital amnesia.

Relevant discussion points may include, but are not limited to:

• The balance between ecological and internal validity in evaluating research
• Biological explanations of why technology may affect cognitive processes
• The difficulty of establishing causal relationships
• Issues of researcher bias
• Linking research to cognitive models of processes - e.g. the working memory model
• Researcher and participant biases

Candidates may discuss the effect of technology on one cognitive process to demonstrate depth of knowledge, or discuss the effects on more than one cognitive process to demonstrate breadth of knowledge. Both approaches are equally acceptable.

There were many strong responses that clearly focused on the influence of technology on cognitive processes. Some candidates failed to identify a cognitive process when explaining research or identified the process as "academic performance", "emotion" or "stress."

Stronger candidates made explicit links between the research and models of memory, attention or decision making that is, they explained why technology may have this effect on cognition.

Some research was quite complex and was misunderstood by candidates for example, there were many inaccurate explanations of Rosser et al (2007). Although any cognitive process could be discussed, candidates that wrote about perception and attention tended to lack understanding of the cognitive process itself when compared to candidates that focused on memory or decision-making.