Alternative representations

This chapter presents approaches for studying a comprehensive view of the role of representation in human cognition. The most fundamental problem confronting cognitive psychology is the way to represent theoretically the knowledge of a person. A popular approach in studying representation is to have subjects perform a task and then try to determine the representation they used. This approach is often useful, especially when the task is set up to examine the contrasting theories of representation. The chapter describes alternative representations for the same information to assess the way in which different formats affect performance. The types of representational formats include lists, matrices, outlines, tree diagrams, networks, and various types of spatial and pictorial formats. Research using the alternative representations approach may provide new ways to devise and test theories about the nature of human representation. © 1988, Academic Press Inc. All rights reserved.

Duke Scholars

Author Ruth S. Day Psychology & Neuroscience