Schema theory
IB Psychology· Cognitive approach· 14 min read
1. Core concept
A schema is a mental framework of prior knowledge that organises information and guides how we interpret and remember it. Schemas make processing efficient — we fill gaps with what usually happens — but the same gap-filling distorts memory: we recall schema-consistent details that were never there and miss inconsistent ones. So memory is partly reconstructive, not a faithful recording.
2. Key studies
IB Psychology answers must be supported by named studies. Learn these to cite as evidence:
Bower, Black & Turner (1979)
Recalling a text about a routine event (e.g. a doctor's visit), people added script-consistent details that were not in the original. — Shows schemas (scripts) inserting information during recall.
Brewer & Treyens (1981)
After waiting in an office, people recalled schema-consistent items better and 'remembered' expected items (books) that were absent. — Demonstrates schema-driven distortion of what is remembered.
3. Evaluation (AO3)
Strength — explains efficiency and error together — One idea accounts for both fast, gap-filling comprehension and predictable memory distortions.
Limitation — vague construct — 'Schema' is hard to define and measure precisely, so the theory describes effects better than it specifies the mechanism.
4. Scope
5. Common Pitfalls
Wrong move:
Using schema theory to answer a 'thinking and decision-making' question, or confusing schema processes with Piaget's assimilation.
Why:
A frequently penalised misconception in IB Psychology exams.
Correct move:
Schema theory is about memory and cognitive processing (encoding/reconstruction), not the dual-processing model of decision-making. Keep it in the memory sub-area.
Going deeper
- Cognitive models (of memory)schema theory is a cognitive model of memory alongside multi-store/working memory (COG_4).