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Cognitive utilization of probabilistic cues
Author(s) -
Wortman Paul M.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
behavioral science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1099-1743
pISSN - 0005-7940
DOI - 10.1002/bs.3830150405
Subject(s) - probabilistic logic , object (grammar) , identification (biology) , computer science , presentation (obstetrics) , process (computing) , artificial intelligence , cognition , natural language processing , sequence (biology) , statistical model , psychology , cognitive psychology , cognitive science , programming language , biology , medicine , neuroscience , botany , genetics , radiology
This article is concerned with a laboratory experiment on a classificatory process similar to medical diagnosis. S s were required to learn the names and descriptions of 16 objects where the cues comprising these descriptions were probabilistic in nature. They then solved a number of object identification problems consisting of the presentation of a single cue, followed by a sequence of yes‐no questions about the presence or absence of other cues, and terminating with the identification of the object. The results were interpreted as supporting a serial hypothesis‐testing model and reveal how such hypotheses are generated and confirmed. The study is viewed as a necessary step toward the creation of a computer model of medical diagnosis. The model is briefly described.