 | Term | Definition |
| |
Symbol |
An object of an act that stands for something else. |
| |
Concept |
Grouping of objects, events, or ideas that have similar characteristics. |
| |
Prototype |
An example of a concept the best exemplifies that concept. Average of experiences. |
| |
Algorithm |
A specific procedure that, when used properly and in the right circumstances, will always lead to the solution of a problem. |
| |
Heuristic |
Rules of thumb that offten, but not always, help us find the solution to a problem. A shortcut. |
| |
Trial and Error |
Knowledge of final goal, but with no idea of how to reach that goal. |
| |
Means-End Analysis |
Knowing that certain things we do will have certain results. |
| |
Working Backward |
Breaking a problem down into parts and dealing with each part individually. Starting by examining the final goal. |
| |
Analogies |
A similarity between two or more items, events, or situations. |
| |
Insight |
A sudden understanding. |
| |
Incubation |
When we arrive at the solutions to a problem when we have not even been consciously working on the problem. |
| |
Mental Set |
The tendency to respond to a new problem with an approach that was successfully used with other similar problems. |
| |
Functional Fixedness |
The tendency to think of an object as being useful only for the function that the object is usually used for. |
| |
Convergent thinking |
Thought is limited to available facts. Attempting to narrow one's thinking to find the single best solution. |
| |
Divergent thinking |
associating more freely to the various elements of a problem. |
| |
ABCDE |
Assess, Brainstorm, Choose, Do it, Evaluate |
| |
Reasoning |
Use of information to reach conclusions. |
| |
Deductive reasoning |
A conclusion is ture if the premises are true. |
| |
Premise |
An idea or statement that provides the basic information that allows us to draw conclusions. |
| |
Inductive reasoning |
Reasoning from individual cases or particular facts to reac a general conclusion. |
| |
Confirmation bais |
Seeking to prove or confirm a hypotheses rather than disprove it. |
| |
Representativeness Heuristic |
Making decisions about a sample according to the population that the sample appears to represent. |
| |
Availability Heuristic |
Making decisions on the basis of information that is available in a person's immediate consciousness. |
| |
Anchoring Heuristic |
Making decisons based on certain ideas or standards a person holds. |
| |
Framing Effect |
The way in which wording affects decision making. |
| |
Language |
The communication of ideas through symbols that are arranged according to rules of grammar. |
| |
Phonemes |
The basic sounds of a language. |
| |
Morphemes |
Units of meaning in a language. |
| |
Syntax |
The way in which words are arranged to make phrases and sentences. |
| |
Semantics |
The relationship between language and the things depicted in the language. The study of meaning. |
| |
The stages of Language Development |
Crying, cooing, and babbling. Words. Grammar. |
| |
Language acquisition device (LAD) |
A natural tendency to acquire language. |
