Cognitive psychology is the scientific study of mental processes such as perception, memory, reasoning, and problem-solving, focusing on how people understand, diagnose, and respond to information. It emphasizes internal mental states and uses experimental methods to study how people acquire, process, and store information.
Categorization is the cognitive process of grouping objects, ideas, or information based on shared characteristics or features, which helps in simplifying the complexity of the world and enhancing decision-making. It is fundamental to human cognition, influencing perception, memory, and language, and is essential for learning and communication.
Instance-based learning is a type of machine learning where the model learns by memorizing the training instances and making predictions based on the similarity between new data and stored instances. It contrasts with model-based learning, which involves building a general model from the training data to make predictions.
Concept formation is the cognitive process of classifying information into categories based on shared features or rules, enabling individuals to understand and respond to their environment efficiently. This process is fundamental in learning, allowing for the organization of experiences and facilitating problem-solving and decision-making.
Similarity judgments are cognitive processes where individuals assess how alike or different objects, ideas, or entities are based on perceived attributes or dimensions. These judgments are crucial in decision-making, categorization, and problem-solving, influencing how information is organized and retrieved in the mind.
The typicality effect refers to the phenomenon where individuals are able to categorize typical members of a category more quickly and accurately than atypical ones. This effect highlights the role of prototypicality in cognitive processing and suggests that more typical examples of a category are more readily accessible in memory.
Examples in learning serve as practical illustrations that bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application, enhancing comprehension and retention. They provide a concrete basis for abstract concepts, making learning more accessible and engaging.