Problem Set 1
Cognitive Science 101C
Due: Monday April 14, 2008 at the beginning of lecture
(1) Ask 3-5 people:
I'm going to read you some numbers and for each one I want you to
tell me how typical that number is for the category "odd
numbers".
Your answer should be one of the following: 1 very typical, 2 pretty
typical,
3 average, 4 pretty atypical, 5 very atypical.
As you read each number, ask the person, 'Is it 1 very typical, 2
pretty
typical, 3 average, 4 pretty atypical, 5 very atypical?' and record his
or her responses.
37
2
3
1,000,000
42
5,089
68
93
1
526
(a) When you are done, make a table to present your data.
(b) What pattern of behavior does the defining attribute theory
predict will occur in this experiment?
(c) Do your results confirm the predictions of the defining
attribute (classical) theory? Explain how they do or do not.
(d) What pattern of behavior does the prototype theory predict
will occur in this experiment?
(e) Do your results confirm the predictions of prototype
theory?
Explain how they do or do not.
(2) On a categorization
task, your subjects learn to categorize the
following patients as having either plurosis or multinomia, based on
the
symptoms described in the following two tables.
PLUROSIS | |||
Patient | Skin | Eyes | Breathing |
KI | rash | dry | shallow |
SJ | rash | red | rapid |
WA | sores | dry | rapid |
GN | rash | sunken | uneven |
PF | spots | dry | wheezing |
RR | oily | cloudy | rapid |
MULTINOMIA | |||
Patient | Skin | Eyes | Breathing |
EW | scaly | puffy | shallow |
RM | scaly | sunken | labored |
DT | oily | puffy | labored |
WP | scaly | cloudy | uneven |
AR | sores | puffy | wheezing |
ND | spots | red | labored |
(a) Given a patient with
symptoms skin rash, dry eyes, and rapid breathing,
what does prototype theory predict will happen? That is, how will your
subjects categorize this patient and why?
(b) Do exemplar models make a different prediction in
this case? Briefly
explain.
(c) Given a patient with symptoms skin spots, sunken eyes, and
rapid
breathing, which diagnosis will your subjects make? Assuming
prototype
theory, will this classification be easier or harder to decide than the
patient described in (a)? Briefly explain.
(d) Given patient PF' (skin spots, normal eyes, and wheezing)
and patient
P-None (skin sores, normal eyes, uneven breathing), subjects were more
likely to diagnose PF' than P-None as having plurosis. Explain
why
this argues for exemplar models of categorization.
(3) Pick a television show (book/play/movie/etc) that has a very predictable structure (e.g. old Scooby Doo episodes). Write a script that includes props, roles, and at least 3 scenes (complete with one or two propositions associated with each).
(4) What TOP and/or TAU
might be activated by the show (or whatever
alternative) you picked in question (3)?
(5) (a) What is a MOP?
(b) What is a meta-MOP?
(c) Let's define the
overall scene as the drive-thru line at Taco Bell, and the goal as
getting food. There are 2 MOPs operating, one for fast-food restaurants
and one for drive-thru service. Draw a diagram showing the
interconnection of the 2 MOPs and a number of scenes (mini-scenes) that
occur between entering the line and leaving with your food.
(6) A friend of yours is
coming to town on business and you arrange over the phone to meet him
at his accommodation. He says "I just checked in."
(a) What frame is evoked by
these words in your head?
(b) What is the idealized
prototypical script for that frame?
(7) Consider the following
sentences:
(a) Multi-millionaire Kerry
Packer is determined to buy the famous 18th century Packer portraits
her father commissioned.
(b) Virgin Atlantic is likely
to buy Trent 800s.
(c) I've got to buy a package
of muesli and some orange juice.
(d) That country is simply not
prepared to buy into nuclear power.
FrameNet describes the Commerce_buy frame as: The BUYER wants the GOODS
and offers MONEY to a SELLER in exchange for them. For (a) through (d),
tell what the values are for these attributes. If you can't tell what
the value is for a given attribute just write '???' next to it.
(e) Which of these four
examples is least well captured by the Commerce_buy frame? Why?