Using a cognitive architecture to examine what develops

Jones, G. ORCID: 0000-0003-3867-9947, Ritter, F.E. and Wood, D.J., 2000. Using a cognitive architecture to examine what develops. Psychological Science, 11 (2), pp. 93-100.

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Abstract

Different theories of development propose alternative mechanisms by which development occurs. Cognitive architectures can be used to examine the influence of each proposed mechanism of development while keeping all other mechanisms constant. An ACT-R computational model that matched adult behavior in solving a 21-block pyramid puzzle was created. The model was modified in three ways that corresponded to mechanisms of development proposed by developmental theories. The results showed that all the modifications (two of capacity and one of strategy choice) could approximate the behavior of 7-year-old children on the task. The strategy-choice modification provided the closest match on the two central measures of task behavior (time taken per layer, r = .99, and construction attempts per layer, r = .73). Modifying cognitive architectures is a fruitful way to compare and test potential developmental mechanisms, and can therefore help in specifying “what develops.”

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Psychological Science
Creators:	Jones, G., Ritter, F.E. and Wood, D.J.
Publisher:	Blackwell
Date:	2000
Volume:	11
Number:	2
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1111/1467-9280.00222 DOI
Rights:	The definitive version is available at www.blackwell-synergy.com
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	EPrints Services
Date Added:	09 Oct 2015 11:09
Last Modified:	09 Jun 2017 13:51
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/23692

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