Semantic Networks Flashcards
• Semantic Networks:
• Semantic Networks: Concepts are organized in your mind as connected ideas. For closely related ideas, they might be closer and longer for less closely related ideas.
• Hierarchical Semantic Network:
First semantic network theory suggested that we stored information in a hierarchical way. “We store things in a hierarchical manner”. It was thought concepts were organized from higher order categories to lower order categories. We store information at the highest category possible.
–> Broad categories/characteristics are stored at higher level nodes.
–> o Supported by Cognitive Economy Principle: Says that our brain is efficient.
–> o Evidence: How long it takes people to verify certain statements. For example, it takes people little time to verify a canary is canary, more time to verify canary is a bird, and even more to verify canary is an animal.
Longer the distance between nodes or more noted in between = longer it takes to verify the connection.
Problem: But, not true for all categories. People tend to categorize a pig as an animal faster than a pig is a mammal.
• Modified Semantic Network:
• Modified Semantic Network: every individual semantic network develops based on experience and knowledge. Some links might be shorter/longer for different individuals and there may be direct links for higher order categories to exemplars.
o Spreading activation:
o Spreading activation: Says all ideas in your brain are connected together. Pulling up one memory pulls up others as well.
Example: saying fire engine activates truck, fire, red which makes it easier to identify/retrieve those items.
• Node link strength
- Node link strength is a function of exposure. Increased exposure increases node link strength.
- Stronger nodal links decrease processing time.
- The relative strength of the node links determines the amount of activation emitted to a network or a specific node.
- Learning reduces processing time.
