| Question |
Answer |
| Concept |
Mental groupings of similar objects, events, and people. The concept "chair" includes-high chair, reclining chair, folding chair etc.-all are used for sitting . Chairs vary but their common features define them as a chair. |
| Heuristics |
A simple thinking strategy that allows us to make judgements and solve problems efficiently. An example of a heuristic process often used is trial and error. When given a jumbled word, we often pair up letters until the correct solution is found. |
| Fixation |
The inability to see a problem from a new perspective; an impediment to problem solving. |
| Framing |
The way an issue is presented; how an issue is framed can affect decisions and judgements. Example: Consumers respond more positively to ground beef that is "75% lean" rather than "25% fat" |
| Belief bias |
The tendency for one's preexisting beliefs to distort logical reasoning. Example: Premise 1 Robins have feathers. Premise 2 Chickens are not robins Conclusion Chickens do not have feathers |
| Phoneme |
In a language, the smallest distinctive sound unit. Example: To say "bat" we utter the sounds b, a, and t. To say "chat" we utter the phonemes ch, a, and t. |
| Morpheme |
In a language, the smallest unit that carries meaning: may be a word or part of a word (such as a prefix). Example: Pre- in "preview" is a morpheme. Undesirable has three morphemes. un-desir-able |
| Semantics |
the set of rules by which we derive meaning from morphemes, words, and sentences in a given language. Example: the semantic rule tells that adding -ed to "laugh" means that it happened in the past. |
| Syntax |
Refers to the rules used for combining words into grammatically sensible sentences in a given language. Example: One rule of English syntax says that adjectives come before nouns. |
| Functional Fixedness |
The tendency to think of things only in terms of their usual functions, impediment to problem solving. Example, a hammer not only can be used for driving or removing nails, but also serves as a paperweight, nutcracker etc. |
| Mental Set |
Tendency to approach a problem in a particular way, often a way that has been successful in the past. Example: Given O-T-T-F-?-?-? what are the next three letters? (F-ive, S-ix, S-even). By solving this it will make the next pattern problem easier. |
| Serial Position Effect |
The tendency to remember and recall information that comes at the beginning (primary effect) and at the end of a list of words (recency effect) more easily than those in the middle. |
| Confabulation |
Filling in gaps in memory by combining and substituting memories from events other than ones you're trying to remember. |
| Incubation |
Putting aside a problem temporarily; allows the problem solver to look at the problem from a different perspective. |
| Chomsky: Inborn Universal Grammar |
Children learn the environment's language. They generate sentences that they have heard then piece together other aspects of grammar to expand language. |
| Skinner: Operant Learning |
Language developement is determined by familiar learning principals (association, imitation, and reinforcement) |
| Cognition |
he mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating. |
| Insight |
A sudden and often novel realization of the solution to a problem; contrasts with strategy-based solutions. |
| Overconfidence |
The tendency to be more confident than correct- to overestimate the accuracy of one's beliefs and judgements. |
| Belief Perseverance |
Clinging to one's initial conceptions after the basis on which they were formed has been discredited. |
BIOL3326 Forms
