Models of human learning

Question 1

Contingency

Answer 1

relationships between two events

Question 2

Statistical accounts

Answer 2

suggests that behaviour can be described in terms of relatively simple statistical computations representing contingency

Question 3

Propositional account

Answer 3

beyond a normative analysis; provides an account based on reasoning and the formation of beliefs

Question 4

Associative learning

Answer 4

hugely influential; describes learning as the formation of links between mental representation

Question 5

What is cognitive science?

Answer 5

~ building formal computational models/programs of behaviour
~ stimulating behaviour
~ generating prediction

Question 6

CS

Answer 6

cue/stimulus

Question 7

US

Answer 7

outcome/event

Question 8

Basic probabilities

Answer 8

~ need the probability of something happening + not happening with and w/o the cue to work out if it will happen
~ shown by calc. delta P

Question 9

Delta P

Answer 9

Allan (1980)
= P(O|C) - P(O|-C)
= a/(a+b) - c/(c+d)
Cue: a(+O) b(-O)
w/o cue: c(+O) d(-O)

Question 10

Chatlosh et al. ?

Answer 10

(1985)
~ press a key to make a light come one
~ different keys has different probabilities
~ operant/instrumental learning

Question 11

Shanks et al.

Answer 11

(1995)
CS = colour of tank
US = whether it explodes or not
~ different conditions had different probabilities
~ terminal judgements reflect delta P
~ growth in judgements not consistent with delta P
~pavlovian learning

Question 12

Evidence for delta P

Answer 12

~ Chatlosh et al. (1985)
~ Shanks et al. (1995)
~ both demonstrate human sensitivity o delta P
~ both demonstrate growth in sensitivity
~ shanks demonstrates outcome density effect

Question 13

Shanks

Answer 13

(1991)
~ mr x eats a variety of fruits, some make him feel ill
~ some combos make him feel ill but how does he know which one in the combo it was?
~ conditional contingency = an interaction occurring between the cues

Question 14

Cheng and Holyoak

Answer 14

(1995)
PROBABILISTIC CONTRAST MODEL
contingency should reflect the difference between delta P in the presence of other cues and delta P in the absence of other cues

Question 15

Probabilistic contrast model

Answer 15

~ similar to the ∆P statistic, but computes contingency over a subset of trials in which the background cues are kept constant