Chapter 3: Schemata and Mental Models

What is the definition of schemata?

Cognitive structures that represent knowledge about a concept, including its attributes and the relations among those attributes.

What are the four functions of schemata?

1. Guide our attention, 2. Organize and store new information, 3. Fill in missing information, 4. Interpret new situations.

What is auditory processing in reading?

The ability to accurately perceive and produce speech sounds, including phonological awareness.

What does visual processing involve in reading?

The ability to picture letters and words in the mind's eye, impacting spelling, fluency, and language processing.

What is mental representation?

The ability to mentally simulate or reconstruct objects, spaces, and actions.

How do schemata relate to social learning theory?

Schemata can be developed indirectly through hearing descriptions of events or experiencing events via media.

What are scripts and stereotypes in the context of schemata?

Scripts are predefined sequences of events, while stereotypes are generalized beliefs about a group, both influencing expectations.

What are mental models?

Internal representations of how something works, including systems models and general representations of processes.

What are event models?

Representations of particular episodes or experiences, more akin to memories.

What is local coherence in story comprehension?

Comprehending new story information based on earlier context, such as recalling details from previous parts of a narrative.

What is the event indexing model?

A model describing how our processing slows down when integrating new information with prior knowledge.

What do character models represent?

Our understanding of traits and behaviors based on earlier context within a story.

What are spatial models in storytelling?

Representations of the physical layout of the story-world.

What is the significance of story-world models?

They help determine if events make sense within the established world of the story, aiding in suspension of disbelief.

What is confirmation bias in cognitive models?

The tendency for cognitive models to bias our attention and interpretation, leading us to observe what we expect to see.

What is the relationship between written and spoken language in reading?

Written language developed long after spoken language, making reading an unnatural process.

What is the role of unfamiliar vocabulary in reading?

Unfamiliar vocabulary can interfere with the reading process and comprehension.

What is phonic awareness?

The ability to perceive and produce speech sounds accurately, essential for effective reading.

How do schemata help in problem-solving?

They provide a framework for interpreting new situations and filling in gaps in knowledge.

What is symbol imagery?

The ability to visualize letters and words, which affects spelling and fluency in reading.