Law of practice

Question 1

power law of learning

Answer 1

p(t) = 1 - (t + 1) ** -u

u - learning rate

characteristics:
- fairly long tail - improvements over long time
- inital point = steep = quick learning at the beginning
- good fit for complex task

Question 2

exponential learning curve

Answer 2

p(t) = 1 - e ** -ut

u - learning rate

characteristics:
- initial portion of learning is less steep, suggesting improvements over time
-good fit for easy task

Question 3

What happens in learning other languages (such as man walks = de man loopt)?

Answer 3

you learn in fragments (compound words) = you need to have 3 or 4 syllables correct

both exponential and power functions become s-shaped!
due to complex learning material

Question 4

What are characteristics of learning piano?

Answer 4

it will take you a long time not to make any mistakes at all

criterion = flawless performance
0 = whenever you make a mistake

importantly, you can still improve by progressively making less mistakes (however, if your criterion is 1 = perfection, technically you remain at 0)

suggesting s-shaped learning

Question 5

When can we expect s-shape in learning?

Answer 5

with more words or fragments (chunks) - complexity high (material-dependent)

lower learning rate - slow learners

Question 6

memory chain model

Answer 6

p(t) = 1 - Poisson(ut, b)

u - learning rate
b - number of traces retrieved from underlying processes

Poisson = cumulative Poisson distribution

Question 7

Point Process Theory - connected to Poisson distribution

Answer 7

if you learn sth, at every trial you have random points distributed

the longer you learn, the more points you have

however, due to random natrue, there are spaces where there is less points or less density

then if you have flashlight - you can use it to flash the light => if flashed in the right place -> memory retrieval

higher chances of memory retrieval are with correct cues

probabilities of it are described by Poisson distribution

Question 8

When s-shape curve could turn into nearly step-like function?

Answer 8

when correct score is based on learning to perfection - having all elements correct at the same time

Question 9

What are other mechanisms that can induce s-shaped learning?

Answer 9

stress
failure to locate salient part of stimulus
development of learning set (understanding what must be learned - especially hard at the beginning)