Which statement best describes Cognitivism as a learning theory?

• A. It focuses on observable behavior changes
• B. It emphasizes modeling and imitation from others
• C. It emphasizes mental processes such as memory and problem solving
• D. It posits learners construct knowledge through social interaction

Answer: (C)

Cognitivism treats learning as an information-processing activity in which the mind actively attends to, encodes, stores, and retrieves information. The statement that emphasizes mental processes like memory and problem solving best reflects this view because it centers on how learners think and organize knowledge, not just what they do externally. In Cognitivism, learners build and arrange knowledge in mental structures called schemas, use strategies to solve problems, and monitor their thinking (metacognition) to become more effective learners. This contrasts with approaches that focus on observable behavior, imitation, or social construction of knowledge, which align with behaviorist, social learning, and constructivist perspectives, respectively.