Computer developments and their applications in cognitive psychology are reviewed. Examples from recent studies illustrate the ways that computers are used for different research purposes: stimulus generation, on-line interactive experimental control, response collection, data analysis, and theory building. A quantitative analysis of federal funding for computer-based and noncomputer research compares costs over the past 9 years for the areas of perception, memory, learning, and thinking. A tabulation of journal articles relevant to computer-based cognitive research shows the distribution of articles over various categories of hardware and software development. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of using computers in cognitive research are evaluated.
HISTORICAL OVERVIEWIn evaluating the impact of computers on cognitive psychology. it is reasonable to begin by examining the past history and trends. The history of computers in cogn itivc psychology is short and recent-about 25 year". The most striking aspect is the increasing speed \\ ith \\ hich computers have been incorporated into all phases of cognitive research. Figure I illustrates a "cumulative record" of landmark events in the development of computers and their application in cognitive psychology. The abacus. perhaps the tirst computing device. was in use some 5.000 years ago. It used a bi-quinary number system that \\ as later used on the console display of the IBM 650. The tirst mechanical computer was built by Pascal. and a better device was built by Leibnitz in 16""3. Charles Babbage designed the tirst large computer, the difference engine, in England in 1812, to calculate tables of mathematical functions. In 1833. he planned the analytical engine. the forerunner of modern general-purpose computers. Although this machine was never constructed. its design innovation
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