COGNITIONCOGNITION

VIEWS ON HOW WE THINK AND VIEWS ON HOW WE THINK AND ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGEACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE

What is cognition?What is cognition? How we thinkHow we think acquire knowledgeacquire knowledge ImagineImagine plan and solve problems plan and solve problems

Mental ImagesMental Images

One tool in thought processOne tool in thought process Use everydayUse everyday

Helps us remember where we parked our Helps us remember where we parked our carcar

Find furniture for homeFind furniture for home Relax in daydreamingRelax in daydreaming

ConceptsConcepts Class or category of objectsClass or category of objects Allows us to communicate with each Allows us to communicate with each

otherother

Types of ConceptsTypes of Concepts Super ordinate ConceptSuper ordinate Concept

Basic level typeBasic level type Most general form…a dog is a dogMost general form…a dog is a dog

Subordinate ConceptSubordinate Concept More specificMore specific

Poodle, Lab, Great DanePoodle, Lab, Great Dane

Types of ConceptsTypes of Concepts Formal Concepts Formal Concepts

Specific rules or featuresSpecific rules or features RigidRigid

Science and mathScience and math

Natural Concepts Natural Concepts Formed as a result of the real worldFormed as a result of the real world More fuzzyMore fuzzy

PrototypesPrototypes An example of a concept that closely An example of a concept that closely

matches the defining characteristicsmatches the defining characteristics May be influenced by area we grow up inMay be influenced by area we grow up in

Problem SolvingProblem Solving When a goal must be reached When a goal must be reached

Thinking and feeling in a certain wayThinking and feeling in a certain way

Trial and ErrorTrial and Error One solution after another One solution after another

algorithmsalgorithms Solve problems through formal Solve problems through formal

reasoningreasoning step-by-step, routine or mechanical step-by-step, routine or mechanical

procedure for solving a problemprocedure for solving a problem Exhausting all the possibilitiesExhausting all the possibilities

heuristicsheuristics ““rule of thumb” strategies to simplify a rule of thumb” strategies to simplify a

problem or guide an investigationproblem or guide an investigation Educated guess based on prior experienceEducated guess based on prior experience Advice from those we respectAdvice from those we respect ““word of mouth”word of mouth”

heuristicsheuristics Representative Representative

Categorizing objectsCategorizing objects AvailabilityAvailability

Estimation of the frequency of an event Estimation of the frequency of an event based on how easy to recallbased on how easy to recall

Means-ends analysisMeans-ends analysis Difference between the starting situation and Difference between the starting situation and

the goal is determined and then steps are the goal is determined and then steps are taken to reduce that differencetaken to reduce that difference

The Limits of HeuristicsThe Limits of Heuristics In many situations heuristics are the only In many situations heuristics are the only

way to tackle a complex problemway to tackle a complex problem Since they rely on assumptions, Since they rely on assumptions,

occasionally they lead to bad decisions occasionally they lead to bad decisions and mistakes and mistakes

Will Not always lead to the correct Will Not always lead to the correct solution solution

InsightInsight You have a corked bottle with a coin in it, You have a corked bottle with a coin in it,

how do you get it out without removing how do you get it out without removing the cork?the cork?

Aha moment!Aha moment!

Errors in problem solvingErrors in problem solving

Confirmation BiasConfirmation Bias Search for evidence that fits our beliefsSearch for evidence that fits our beliefs

Functional FixednessFunctional Fixedness Block when we only think of object in Block when we only think of object in

typical mannertypical manner Mental SetsMental Sets

We get stuck on using techniques that have We get stuck on using techniques that have worked in the pastworked in the past

How would you attach How would you attach candle to the wall??candle to the wall??

CreativityCreativity Entirely new way of looking at the Entirely new way of looking at the

problemproblem Combining ideas and or behavior in new Combining ideas and or behavior in new

waysways

ThinkingThinking ConvergentConvergent

Only one answerOnly one answer All lines of thinking lead to same answerAll lines of thinking lead to same answer

DivergentDivergent Many different ideasMany different ideas Creative, and intelligenceCreative, and intelligence

Divergent thinkersDivergent thinkers Not all attention is focused on solutionNot all attention is focused on solution Higher mental processHigher mental process Less prone to some of the barriers of Less prone to some of the barriers of

problem solvingproblem solving Broad range of knowledgeBroad range of knowledge Aren’t afraid to be differentAren’t afraid to be different independentindependent

IntelligenceIntelligence Ability to learn from one’s experienceAbility to learn from one’s experience Acquire knowledgeAcquire knowledge Use resources effectivelyUse resources effectively

Theories of intelligence Theories of intelligence Spearman's G FactorSpearman's G Factor

G Factor-general intelligenceG Factor-general intelligence S Factor-Specific intelligenceS Factor-Specific intelligence

Over simplifiedOver simplified

Gardener’s Multiple Gardener’s Multiple intelligences intelligences

Naturalist IntelligenceNaturalist Intelligence botanist or chefbotanist or chef

Existential IntelligenceExistential Intelligence Interpersonal IntelligenceInterpersonal Intelligence

Teachers, social workers, actors, and Teachers, social workers, actors, and politicianspoliticians

Bodily-Kinesthetic IntelligenceBodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence Athletes, dancers, surgeons, and Athletes, dancers, surgeons, and

craftspeoplecraftspeople

Gardner’s IntelligenceGardner’s Intelligence Musical IntelligenceMusical Intelligence

composers, conductors, musicians, vocalist, and composers, conductors, musicians, vocalist, and sensitive listeners sensitive listeners

Linguistic IntelligenceLinguistic Intelligence poets, novelists, journalists, and effective public poets, novelists, journalists, and effective public

speakersspeakers Intra-personal IntelligenceIntra-personal Intelligence

psychologist, spiritual leaders, and philosopherspsychologist, spiritual leaders, and philosophers

Gardner’s IntelligenceGardner’s Intelligence Spatial Intelligence Spatial Intelligence

Sailors, pilots, sculptors Sailors, pilots, sculptors Logical-Mathematical IntelligenceLogical-Mathematical Intelligence

MMathematicians, scientists, and detectivesathematicians, scientists, and detectives

Sternberg’s Triarchic Sternberg’s Triarchic TheoryTheory

AnalyticalAnalytical Break problems down to solveBreak problems down to solve

CreativeCreative New ways to problem solveNew ways to problem solve

PracticalPractical Street smarts Street smarts

IQ Tests Fifth addition Measures

Fluid reasoning Knowledge Quantitative processing Visual-spatial processing Working memory

Mental age versus chronological age IQ = MA/CA X 100 Many kids are given this test at age 7 or 8

Test Questions

Test Questions STRAWBERRY:RED STRAWBERRY:RED

(A) peach:ripe (A) peach:ripe (B) leather:brown (B) leather:brown (C) grass:green (C) grass:green (D) orange:round (D) orange:round (E) lemon:yellow(E) lemon:yellow

IQ Cultural Bias Test questions were originally designed without

thought of cultures White America

Very Difficult to develop a test free of cultural bias/needs to be culturally fair

Need to be developed with little to no language Non verbal abilities

Does well at predicting academic success for those at the higher and lower ends of the curves

Dove Counterbalance IQ Dove Counterbalance IQ TestTest

How long should one boil chitlins while How long should one boil chitlins while preparing them?preparing them?

A. Five MinutesA. Five MinutesB. Three HoursB. Three HoursC. 24 HoursC. 24 HoursD. 45 MinutesD. 45 Minutes

Intellectual Disabilty Defined by

IQ below 70 Adaptive behavior Present below age of 18

Causes Unhealthy living conditions Prenatal care Poor nutrition during the formative years Biological/heredity

Giftedness Giftedness IQ above 140IQ above 140 2% of the population2% of the population