Unit 7 Cognition

Unit 7 Layout Day 1 – Studying and Building Memory (Module 31) Day 2 – Systems of Memory (Modules 32 & 33) Day 3 – Thinking, Concepts, and Creativity (Module 34) + Vocab Quiz Day 4 – Problem Solving and Decision Making (Module 35) Day 5 – Thought and Language (Module 36) Day 6 – Review and Unit 7 CUA

Module 35 – Thinking and Language SWBAT  identify decision making techniques (algorithms, heuristics, availability heuristics, representativeness heuristics), and factors influencing their effectiveness or decisions made, such as overconfidence, confirmation bias, belief perseverance, and hindsight bias

Problem Solving Strategies and Obstacles Algorithms Step-by-step solutions that narrow down to the best/only possible solution Time consuming but nearly always correct Heuristic “Fast-and-dirty”; involves making judgments and solve problems efficiently Can be quick, but also more error-prone Insight Sudden realization of a problem’s solution, “flash of insight” NOT strategy based

Strategies and Obstacles Confirmation bias Tendency to seek out information that CONFIRMS our current beliefs; ignore information that goes against our beliefs How did our activity demonstrate confirmation bias? Mental set The tendency to approach a problem in a particular way, especially one that has been useful in the past How does the activity demonstrate mental sets?

Forming Judgments Intuition Representative heuristic Automatic unreasoned feelings and thoughts Thinking “by the seat of your pants” When we need to think quickly, we use heuristics instead of algorithms Representative heuristic Formed using prototypes “What is the likelihood of something?” in terms of how well they represent, or match our prototypes How does our example demonstrate the power – and flaws – of using representative heuristics?

Forming Judgments Availability heuristic Estimates likelihood based on availability in memory

Forming Judgments Intuition Overconfidence Intuition is enormously important Intuition is adaptive – based on the situations and memories you’ve had Intuition is basically recognition born of experience Overconfidence The tendency to be more confident than correct In 2010, BP – an oil company – downplayed safety concerns on an oil platform in the Gulf Right up until it exploded, killed dozens of workers, and spilled millions of gallons of oil into the ocean

Forming Judgments Belief bias Framing Clinging to initial concepts after the basis they were formed on has been disprove Framing The way we present an issue Can change how individuals decide or judge something Ex: In countries where you have to opt-out of being an organ donor, almost 100% of people are organ donors. In countries where you have to opt in, only 25% of people are organ donors. How did framing influence student’s decisions in the activity?