semantic memory

Question 1

general world knowledge including objects, people, concepts, words =

Answer 1

semantic memory

Question 2

what was the first network semantic memory model developed by Collins & Quillians?

Answer 2

Hierarchial network model

Question 3

why is the structure of semantic memory described as a network?

Answer 3

links with knowledge you have learnt previously, library of knowledge like wikipedia

Question 4

what is the structural features of the hierarchical network model?

Answer 4

activate a representation that spreads to an upper category level and this activate the top level category. access of concept representations through spreading activation between NODES via their connecting PATHS

Question 5

what are the 3 different levels in the hierarchical network model?

Answer 5

subordinate > basic > superordinate

Question 6

which levels are the easiest and hardest to retrieve semantic memories?

Answer 6

basic = easiest and quickest to retrieve, subordinate = harder because more specific, superordinate = hard because they are above basic level.

Question 7

properties of the different representations =

Answer 7

features

Question 8

what is the revised model from the hierarchical network model called?

Answer 8

associative network model

agreed its definitely a network but not as similar to Wiki

Question 9

instead of hierarchy, what does associates the different concepts?

Answer 9

semantic relatedness

Question 10

why are semantic memories represented as an associative network?

Answer 10

because there are associations between different concepts

Question 11

what is semantic dementia?

Answer 11

progressive deterioration leading to loss of knowledge about everything, relatively early onset

Question 12

what are the 4 different theories of categorisation? give them in the order were they developed in

Answer 12

classical theory > prototype theory > exemplar theory > explanation based theory

Question 13

assumes categories come about by defining necessary concepts based by necessary, sufficient features = what theory?

Answer 13

classical

Question 14

what were the criticisms of classical theory developed by Ludwig Wittgenstein?

Answer 14

looked at chairs and peoples definitions of them. found there isn’t 1 single definition that works for all chairs but they all have certain features in common (family resemblance)

Question 15

different members of a category can share different features =

Answer 15

family resemblance

Question 16

categories exhibit an averaged ideal of all the different exemplars =

Answer 16

central tendency

Question 17

some members are more typical for a category than others =

Answer 17

graded membership

Question 18

what are the 3 different ways in measuring categorisation?

Answer 18

typicality ratings, exemplar production, category membership verification

Question 19

how are categories measured with typicality ratings?

Answer 19

ppts asked to rank a member of a category from being best example to worst example to show graded membership in categories

Question 20

how are categories measured with exemplar production?

Answer 20

ppts asked to recall as many things part of a category as possible, DV = frequency of production

Question 21

how are categories measured using category membership verification?

Answer 21

ask ppt if exemplar is part of a category (e.g. is carpet a type of furniture?) fast to say robin is a bird but slower to say carpet is a furniture. longer reaction times would reflect less typical membership

Question 22

categories are determined by a mental representation that is a weighted average of all category members = what theory?

Answer 22

prototype theory

Question 23

what forms can the prototype be in?

Answer 23

may of may not be an actual entity > can be an actual thing in the world or an abstract representation in semantic memory

Question 24

what is a strength of prototype theory?

Answer 24

accounts for central tendency

Question 25

what are the criticisms of prototype theory?

Answer 25

can’t explain:
how can people tell the size of categories and how can people add new members to a category
(exemplar theory was developed based on these criticisms from prototype theory)

Question 26

categories consist of separate representations of the physical features of experienced examples of the category =

Answer 26

exemplar theory

Question 27

what are the strengths of prototype theory?

Answer 27

allows us to be able to tell category sizes and be able to add new members

Question 28

what are the criticisms of exemplar theory?

Answer 28

can’t explain: theoretical circularity, how do people form abstract categories of things without physical features? (e.g. types of social groups, ways to make friends etc.)

Question 29

categories are based on common causal characteristics rather than physical features and can be created on the go using world knowledge and explanations = what theory?

Answer 29

explanation based theory

Question 30

what are the 2 things semantic memory enables us to form?

Answer 30

schemata and scripts

Question 31

what does schemata capture?

Answer 31

commonly encountered aspects of life e.g. buying things. can be thought of as EXPLANATION BASED EVENT CATEGORIES

Question 32

what are scripts?

Answer 32

e.g. eating in a restaurant > capture the order of events for common aspects of life, about the series of actions you take in a regular situation, can be thought of as TEMPORALLY ORDERED SCHEMATA

Question 33

What are the 5 primary schema processes?

Answer 33

selection, abstraction, interpretation, integration, reconstruction

Question 34

selecting information that is central to a particular schema that is activated at that moment =

Answer 34

selection

Question 35

what does selection of a schema allow you to do?

Answer 35

allows you to focus on information that you are currently interested in

Question 36

describe Bransford and Johnson’s experiment on selection (hint: studying a text)

Answer 36

asked ppts to study a text either without given a topic, given a topic before reading, given a topic after reading. then asked ppts to freely recall the text ideas and key points found that ppts told the topic before could recall more. shows schema activation benefits encoding of schema relevant info

Question 37

the surface form of info is converted into a more abstract representation that captures the meaning but is schema consistent = which schema process?

Answer 37

abstraction

Question 38

describe carmichael et al’s experiment on abstraction (hint: pictures and labels)

Answer 38

2 groups presented with pictures with different labels that interpret pics in different ways, ppts asked to recall objects by drawing them same as they saw the picture before. found ppts didn’t encode info as it was seen but encoded it with the label they got

Question 39

used to fill in the gaps in a story with schema consistent information =

Answer 39

interpretation

Question 40

what is integration of information used for?

Answer 40

to form schema consistent holistic representations

Question 41

describe Bartlett’s experiment looking at reconstruction during retrieval (hint: Native american tale)

Answer 41

british students studied native american tale and were asked to recall after different time durations. found details were reconstructed to to be simplified and fit cultural schema. ppts get the story and try to remember it by making it consistent with their own experience and cultural schema

Question 42

describe Brewer & Treyen’s experiment looking at reconstruction schema process (hint: office)

Answer 42

ppts told to wait in grad office for experimenter, waited for 10 mins, then called from the room and asked to recall everything they had seen in the room, recalled books and filing cabinet even though they were’nt present in the room. recalled because they fitted the schema of an office

Question 43

what do schema processes affect and how?

Answer 43

encoding and retrieval of information by changing our memories and therefore their correctness