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THE INTERPLAY OF KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES IN THE PROCESSING OF TEXT
Author(s) -
DAVOU BETTINA,
TAYLOR FITZ,
WORRALL NORMAN
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
british journal of educational psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.557
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 2044-8279
pISSN - 0007-0998
DOI - 10.1111/j.2044-8279.1991.tb00988.x
Subject(s) - schema (genetic algorithms) , psychology , cognition , cognitive psychology , information processing , cognitive science , computer science , information retrieval , neuroscience
S ummary . This study begins from a comparison of the information processing and the schema theories of learning, in an attempt to construct a more global explanation of cognitive processing. A comparison of a “schema” group of learners, that is, individuals with a well‐developed knowledge base about a particular topic, with a non‐schema group suggested that performance depends first on installing and drawing on the best available schema, and to the extent this is deficient only then defaulting to traditional “abilities”. This was seen as evidence for operation of a “cognitive compensation mechanism”. This mechanism permits the learner to minimise schema deficit by maximising the use of ability and to minimise ability deficit by maximising the use of schema. The findings are analysed with view to the educational benefits which could be derived by a model which provides a unifying explanation of cognitive processing and performance.