Ch. 8 Topics

1. Prototype model of the nature of concepts.
      In a prototype model of concepts is thinking of the most generally known examples of a given category. The less commonly known something is, even in the correct category, the more nonprototypical it is. A particular example or prototype can be chosen for several reasons; either it is the most widely known, it might resemble the most members, or it might mean something personal.
2. Use the scripts in thinking about people.
      Schemas about the sequence of events in a certain situation are called scripts. Schemas help us process and organize information that we receive by using previous knowledge. A person's schema varies when considering a person, depending on the type of behavior and appearance they're used to. When you talk about famous people you think of people you've seen on television. When you think of a homeless person, you think of an unshaven man typically with very dirty, worn clothing.
3. The difference between decision making and problem solving.
        Decision making you select among alternatives, usually by identifying important criteria and determining how well each alternative satisfies these criteria. In problem solving, you overcome obstacles to reach a desired outcome.
4. How well we do in forecasting how we feel after various events occur.
        People overestimate the extent to which negative events will affect them in the future. A good example of this would be how I got 4th place last year at state in tennis. Many people would consider that an admirable feat, however loosing after winning the first set 1-0, and being the last match of my high school career, was bittersweet. According to loss aversion, losing is much worse than gaining is good.
5. Validity and how it differs from reliability.
       The validity of something is how true or supported by factual proof something is. In tests, it is knowing that you're measuring what you intend to be measuring. Reliability is the quality of being accurate and dependable in achievement. Reliable data is that which gives you nearly the same result from multiple tests. Experiments can be reliable and not valid if you get similar data but are not measuring the right variable.