semantic memory Flashcards
general world knowledge including objects, people, concepts, words =
semantic memory
what was the first network semantic memory model developed by Collins & Quillians?
Hierarchial network model
why is the structure of semantic memory described as a network?
links with knowledge you have learnt previously, library of knowledge like wikipedia
what is the structural features of the hierarchical network model?
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
what are the 3 different levels in the hierarchical network model?
subordinate > basic > superordinate
which levels are the easiest and hardest to retrieve semantic memories?
basic = easiest and quickest to retrieve, subordinate = harder because more specific, superordinate = hard because they are above basic level.
properties of the different representations =
features
what is the revised model from the hierarchical network model called?
associative network model
agreed its definitely a network but not as similar to Wiki
instead of hierarchy, what does associates the different concepts?
semantic relatedness
why are semantic memories represented as an associative network?
because there are associations between different concepts
what is semantic dementia?
progressive deterioration leading to loss of knowledge about everything, relatively early onset
what are the 4 different theories of categorisation? give them in the order were they developed in
classical theory > prototype theory > exemplar theory > explanation based theory
assumes categories come about by defining necessary concepts based by necessary, sufficient features = what theory?
classical
what were the criticisms of classical theory developed by Ludwig Wittgenstein?
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)
different members of a category can share different features =
family resemblance
categories exhibit an averaged ideal of all the different exemplars =
central tendency
some members are more typical for a category than others =
graded membership
what are the 3 different ways in measuring categorisation?
typicality ratings, exemplar production, category membership verification
how are categories measured with typicality ratings?
ppts asked to rank a member of a category from being best example to worst example to show graded membership in categories
how are categories measured with exemplar production?
ppts asked to recall as many things part of a category as possible, DV = frequency of production
how are categories measured using category membership verification?
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
categories are determined by a mental representation that is a weighted average of all category members = what theory?
prototype theory
what forms can the prototype be in?
may of may not be an actual entity > can be an actual thing in the world or an abstract representation in semantic memory
what is a strength of prototype theory?
accounts for central tendency
what are the criticisms of prototype theory?
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)
categories consist of separate representations of the physical features of experienced examples of the category =
exemplar theory
what are the strengths of prototype theory?
allows us to be able to tell category sizes and be able to add new members
what are the criticisms of exemplar theory?
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.)
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?
explanation based theory
what are the 2 things semantic memory enables us to form?
schemata and scripts
what does schemata capture?
commonly encountered aspects of life e.g. buying things. can be thought of as EXPLANATION BASED EVENT CATEGORIES
what are scripts?
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
What are the 5 primary schema processes?
selection, abstraction, interpretation, integration, reconstruction
selecting information that is central to a particular schema that is activated at that moment =
selection
what does selection of a schema allow you to do?
allows you to focus on information that you are currently interested in
describe Bransford and Johnson’s experiment on selection (hint: studying a text)
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
the surface form of info is converted into a more abstract representation that captures the meaning but is schema consistent = which schema process?
abstraction
describe carmichael et al’s experiment on abstraction (hint: pictures and labels)
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
used to fill in the gaps in a story with schema consistent information =
interpretation
what is integration of information used for?
to form schema consistent holistic representations
describe Bartlett’s experiment looking at reconstruction during retrieval (hint: Native american tale)
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
describe Brewer & Treyen’s experiment looking at reconstruction schema process (hint: office)
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
what do schema processes affect and how?
encoding and retrieval of information by changing our memories and therefore their correctness
