Chapter 19: Cognitive Psychology Flashcards
Frederic Bartlett (1886–1969)
British, One of the first modern cognitive psychologists. His influential work includes “Remembering: A Study in Experimental and Social Psychology,” where he introduced the concept of schema and its role in memory
Jerome Bruner (1915–2016)
American, Along with Miller and Bartlett, one of the first cognitive psychologists. Among his contributions were the popularization of Piaget and Vygotsky. His significant contributions include “The Process of Education,” where he advocated for a more discovery-oriented and interactive approach to learning.
Noam Chomsky (1928–2022)
American, Trained as linguist, he wrote a review of Skinner’s work on language, showing the limits of a behavioral explanation and beginning the “cognitive revolution.” Much of modern psycholinguistics centers around his theory of language. His groundbreaking work includes “Syntactic Structures,” where he introduced transformational-generative grammar
George Miller (1920–2012)
American, Did pioneering research on information processing in the 1950s and 1960s that significantly enhanced the popularity of cognitive psychology. He is known for his paper “The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two,” which explored the limitations of human working memory and the creation of “Miller law”
Ulric Neisser (1928–2012)
American, Noted cognitive psychologist. Authored two classic textbooks and advocated for cognitive research that was both applied and ecologically valid. His influential book “Cognitive Psychology” helped establish cognitive psychology as a distinct field
Jean Piaget (1896–1980)
Swiss, Focused on cognitive development, and how schemata evolve during maturation and through experience. His seminal work includes “The Theory of Cognitive Development,” where he proposed a stage theory of cognitive development
John Searle (1932–2022)
American, With his famous “Chinese Room” thought experiment, sought to demonstrate that computer programs can simulate human thought processes but not duplicate them. Computer programs, he says, can only manipulate symbols according to rules (syntax), whereas humans assign meaning to symbols (semantics).Therefore, he accepts weak artificial intelligence and rejects strong artificial intelligence
Alan Turing (1912–1954)
British, Turing is considered the father of Artificial Intelligence in computer science and psychology. Among his contributions was the Turing test
Artificial Intelligence
The development of computer systems capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence
Attribution
The process by which individuals explain the causes of behavior, events, or outcomes, attributing them to internal or external factors
Back-propagation Systems
Neural networks programmed using feedback to adjust weights, often used for supervised learning tasks
Cognitive Science
Interdisciplinary study of mind and intelligence, encompassing philosophy, psychology, AI, neuroscience, linguistics, and anthropology
Concrete Operations Stage (Piaget)
Piaget’s stage (around 7-11 years) where children develop logical thought but struggle with abstract concepts
Connectionism
A cognitive approach using artificial neural networks to model mental processes
Formal Operations Stage (Piaget)
Piaget’s stage (around 12 years and up) where abstract thinking and problem-solving develop
Hebb’s Rule
Neural connection strengthening based on repeated simultaneous or successive activation, influential in connectionist models
Information Theory (Shannon and Weaver)
Mathematical theory of communication by Shannon and Weaver, foundational in understanding data transmission and storage
Information Processing Psychology
Approach focusing on mental processes using computer metaphor, influenced by Newell, Shaw, and Simon
Neural Networks
Systems of artificial neurons modeling human learning and cognition
Preoperational Stage (Piaget)
Piaget’s stage (around 2-7 years) marked by symbolic thinking but lack of logical operations
Semantics
Study of meaning in language, crucial in linguistic and cognitive research
Sensorimotor Stage (Piaget)
Piaget’s initial stage (0-2 years) focused on sensory experiences and motor activities
Strong Artificial Intelligence
The concept that machines can possess general intelligence similar to humans
Syntax
The study of sentence structure and rules governing word combinations in language
Turing Test (Turing)
A test proposed by Alan Turing to determine a machine’s ability to exhibit human-like intelligence
Weak Artificial Intelligence
The idea that machines can simulate human intelligence for specific tasks without true understanding
Turing Machine
An abstract mathematical model of computation, considered a foundational concept in the development of modern computers
Chinese Room Argument (Searle)
An argument that challenges the idea that a computer can genuinely understand and have consciousness
Ecological Validity (Neisser)
The extent to which the findings of a research study generalize to real-life settings
Miller’s Law (Miller)
The cognitive principle that the average number of objects an average human can hold in working memory is about seven
Universal Grammar (Chomsky)
The theory that the ability to acquire language is innate to humans and that all human languages share a common structural basis
Discovery Learning (Bruner)
A learning theory that promotes problem-solving and exploration to discover new information
Spiral Curriculum (Bruner)
A teaching method that revisits basic ideas, building on them and expanding as students revisit topics at different ages
Schema (Bartlett)
A mental framework or organized pattern of thought that people use to organize and interpret information
