Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
Key Terms
ecological validity the ability to generalize results from a study across a variety of settings
introspection the consideration of the contents of one’s mind, and the reports of that
consideration
behaviourism a theory of functioning in which learning, thought and behaviour are the result of
stimulus-responds relations
Gestalt theory and principles German-“configuration”-a theory which states that experience is
coherent and unified
human performance/human factors a research approach based on studying the factors which
affect performance
direct perception a theory which supposes that all that is required for accurate perception is
the sensory input, a data-driven theory
threshold the point at which stimuli can be detected (absolute) or the difference between two
stimuli can be detected (differential)
transduction the process of converting energy at the sensory receptive field into neural
impulses
visual cortex the area of the brain sensitive to visual input; there are also areas known to be
receptive to auditory, olfactory,gustatory,somatonsensory and proprioceptive input
automaticity when a process becomes so familiar one no longer needs to pay attention to it
bottleneck theories models of selective attention in which information must past through an
area where there is insufficient space for everything
capacity models models of attention in which selection is carried out on the basis of resources
rather than filters
cocktail party phenomenon a situation where filtering is seen quite clearly, but also
demonstrates that salient information will be process
late selection models theories of attention in which selection of materials made in short term
rather than sensory memory
brain asymmetry the different functions, and awareness of the left and the right brains
hemisphere
habituation the lock of response seen on repetitive presentation of a stimulus
preconscious and unconscious memory different states of information, readily accessible, and
unavailable respectively
central executive a component of working memory which identify processes that are needed
levels of processing a theory of how type and depth of processing affects retention
long term or permanents store a type of memory structure holding relatively large amounts of
information, relatively permanently
multistore models a theory of how several components of memory are linked and work
together
sensory store a type of memory structure that holds information from the immediate
environment
serial position effect the effect seen when subjects recall word lists, with first in the list
(primacy effect) and the last in the list (recency effect) recalled better than the others
short term or transient store a type of memory structures holding information from the
present, limited in capacity and fragile in nature
visuo-spatial sketch pad a component of working memory concerned with visual and spatial
information
information cluster the procedure by which information passes from transient to permanent
store
memory codes evidence suggests that information is coded for organization in transient store,
codes being investigated including auditory, visual and semantic
release from proactive inhibition a phenomenon in which it is more difficult to recall later
items when earlier items have already been learnt
cognitive interview interviews with eye-witnesses designed to raise the integrity and amount
of information gained
dissociative fugue a psychogenic state involving almost total memory loss, and hence identity
loss; often temporary
dissociative identity disorder multiple personality disorders associated with high levels of
repression due to sustained trauma or abuse. Or faking
organic states brain dysfunction associated with amnesia, including head injury, strokes,
alcoholism, and degenerative diseases of the brain
repression motivated forgetting due to memory being too painful for recall
state-dependent forgetting loss of information due to the retrieval state being different form
the cueing state
clustering model a model of knowledge representation in which concepts are stored together
cognitive economy a feature of models in which items are stored with lack of redundancy
production systems mental systems in which the knowledge stored as production rules
semantic feature comparison model knowledge representation in which words become sets of
features and members are compared
semantic priming the phenomenon in which presentation of one word will bring about recall of
related words
set theoretical model a type of clustering model in which categories and attributes are stored
together
spreading activation the presentation of one item held in a semantic net will trigger the
activation of the net close by
universal affirmative a feature of sets in which all members of a category are included
decision making the process of making a choice between several alternatives based on the
attractiveness and utility of each alternative
deductive reasoning reasoning based on sets of rules and logical relations between items
problem solving a process directed towards finding a solution when no method is readily
available
g general intelligence
IQ a measure of ability on tests is which is calculated as the ratio of a measured mental age to
chronological or actual age, multiplied by 100
psychometrics the study and use of standardized tests of ability and personality
expertise a high level of skill, probably involving different types of pattern storage
knowledge engineering a specialized set of research methods designed to elicit knowledge
from experts
latent learning learning that takes place without being immediately manifest in behaviour
critical periods biologically determined stages of organic and cognitive development during
which language must be acquired
language acquisition the way in which we learn to use language. There are 3 major theories –
the behaviourist, the innate and the information processing views
language acquisition device pre-programmed wiring in the brain required for learning to use
language in response to environmental stimuli
language development the way in which the use of language can be observed to change and
the underlying skill development this implies
transformational grammar the rules by which sentences are transformed into meaning, and
meaning into sentences
ethology the study of behaviour, particularly anima behaviour in the natural environment
insight learning the perception of relationships leading to solutions which can be applied in
other settings, and which is unobservable
computer simulation attempts to mimic human behaviour and environments using computers
strong Al the view that computers may have mental states and hence be intelligent
Turing Machine an abstract machine which can read and write symbols, and change its internal
state as a result
Universal Turing Machine a Turing Machine which can carry out the processes of any other,
given the same instructions
Weak Al the view that computers are only symbols manipulators, and whilst a useful tool for
studying the mind, cannot be intelligent