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Similarity and the development of rules
1Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA. gentner@nwu.edu
Cognition
|April 29, 1998
Summary
Comparison bridges similarity-based and rule-based cognition during learning and development. This structure-sensitive process aids in grasping rules and applying knowledge to new situations, advancing cognitive development.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Science
- Developmental Psychology
- Artificial Intelligence
Background:
- Cognitive science often presents similarity-based and rule-based processing as distinct.
- Understanding the interplay between these cognitive mechanisms is crucial for explaining learning and development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose comparison as a unifying mechanism linking similarity-based and rule-based cognitive processes.
- To explore the role of comparison in both acquiring abstract rules and applying existing knowledge.
Main Methods:
- The study conceptualizes comparison as a process of structural alignment and mapping between representations.
- It suggests that this structure-sensitive comparison can be triggered by various inputs, both experiential and symbolic.
Main Results:
- Comparison facilitates the abstraction of rules by identifying structural commonalities between representations.
- Comparison aids in the application and extension of acquired knowledge to novel instances.
Conclusions:
- Comparison serves as a critical bridge between similarity-based and rule-based cognition.
- This mechanism is significant for both learning new concepts and generalizing existing knowledge in cognitive development.
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