Developmental psychology.pdf

Cognition and Language 227
Reasoning and Problem Solving
7. Computer simulation involves the use of computers for the study of human
thought. This work has been approached using algorithms and flowcharts,
which are step-by-step, unambiguous procedures for accomplishing a
certain task. Heuristic methods also have been employed, and they are more
like human thinking because they involve selecting the most promising
approach, rather than a systematic search of all possibilities.
8. There are two basic types of reasoning. Inductive reasoning involves
discovering hypotheses or principles; deductive reasoning concerns the
logical validity of a conclusion or inference. Errors in inductive reasoning
often occur because one does not look for disconfirming evidence. Errors in
deductive reasoning are commonly due to distortions of the premises.
9. Both inductive and deductive reasoning are involved in problem solving,
which requires flexibility in thinking. A set is a tendency to react only in a
certain manner, tn functional fixedness, which is a type of set, objects are
perceived as useful only for their original purposes. Both conditions can be
obstacles to successful problem solving.
Creative Thinking
10. The creative process may involve more trial and error than is popularly
suspected. Beyond basic reasoning, creativity also seems to require
commitment. But the actual thoiight processes in creativity may not differ
significantly from those in other forms of reasoning.
11. Creative individuals usually have at least moderately high intelligence.
They are likely to be independent, humorous, and interested in novel tasks.
For creativity in any field, a well-prepared mind is most important.
An Enduring Question
12. From the conditioning viewpoint, language acquisition occurs primarily on
the basis of reinforcement, and it is influenced by the method of
approximation, stimulus generalization, extinction, chaining, and so forth.
From the cognitive viewpoint, the human capacity for processing large
amounts of verbal information is especially evident in the child's discovery
of the grammatical rules of language. A combined perspective postulates
that conditioning pertains to the learning of language habits and that the
cognitive view pertains to the learning of language rules.
13. The extent to which human language can be acquired by animals is still
uncertain. The answer depends partly on how language is defined.
Critical Terms
Cognition
Phoneme
Morpheme
Syntax
Holophrastic expressions
Computer model
Information processing
Algorithm
Heuristic method
Inductive reasoning
Deductive reasoning
Set
Covert trial-and-error
Evaluative reasoning
Divergent thinking
Convergent thinking
Language habits
Language rules