Test 3: Language

Question 1

Definition of Cognition

Answer 1

Cognition is the mental processes involved in acquiring, storing, retrieving, and using knowledge.

Question 2

Tools of Thinking

Answer 2

Imagery: Having a sensory experience mentally (Visual Imagery is most common)
Auditory: Sounds going on in your head.

Question 3

Types of Decision Making

Answer 3

Additive Strategy
You rate each alternative on its important factors and we choose the alternative with the highest rating.
Elimination by Aspects
Eg looking for a car aspects are: Manual, MPG, Fast, Price, Color
Definition: Making a decision between alternatives based on the chosen alternative having the most desirable aspects.
Heuristics
Fast but fowl-able ways of making decisions (they backfire, outcomes not good)
Availability Heuristic: Making a decision based on what is most available in memory.
Representativeness: thinking is based on how closely a new situation or object resembles an existing or old prototype.
Framing: Influences a decision. The way information is presented to us persuades us to make a decision.

Question 4

Problem Solving

Answer 4

Problem solving: Thoughts and actions required to achieve a goal that is not readily attainable.
Trial and error: We try many different things until one of them works.
Applying Prior Knowledge: Using the knowledge of a previous problem to solve a new problem.
Algorithms: Step by step procedures to solve a problem that has a specific answer. If you follow the steps you will get the right answer.
Heuristics and Problem Solving:
Means and analysis: Using short term goals to reach a long term goal.
Working Backwards: Starting with the solution and work backwards through the problems.
Analogy: when you use the exact same solution of a previous problem to solve a new problem.
Blocks to problem solving
Functional Fixedness: When you are unable to use an object or analyze a situation for anything other than its intended purpose.
Mental Set: When we get trapped in trying the same solution over and over and it continues to not work.

Question 5

Prototype

Answer 5

A prototype is the best collection of characteristics of a concept.
i.e. the prototype of a bird is wings, beaks, feathers, tails, flying.

Question 6

Functional Fixedness

Answer 6

When you are unable to use an object or analyze a situation for anything other than its intended purpose.

Question 7

Definition of Language

Answer 7

Language is a means of communicating thoughts and feelings using a system of socially shared but arbitrary symbols arranged according to the rules of grammar and includes surface and deep structure.

Question 8

The Four Primary Components of Language

Answer 8

Phonemes: The smallest unit of sound in a spoken language.
Morphemes: The smallest unit of language with meaning.
Syntax: Grammar, How language is organized.
Semantics: The meaning of language.

Question 9

Surface Vs. Deep Structure

Answer 9

Surface Structure: The meaning of the spoken words
Deep Structure: Is the underlying meaning.
Some animal language may have deep structure we cannot identify.