This book fulfils the need for a clear overview of this area of cognitive psychology which encompasses both language and thought. Focusing on goal directed thinking and decision making, Nick Lund looks at the relationship between our grasp of language and our problem solving abilities. Different positions on the issues are contextualised and discussed in a way suitable for the AQA-A A-Level syllabus. Supplementary detail means that the book will also be valuable to other A-Level specification candidates and undergraduates coming to this area for the first time.
Recenzijos
"This clearly written text will help to explain and clarify a complex area of cognitive research that A Level students often find difficult. Its depth of understanding and a wide set of research examples means that the book will also appeal to first year undergraduates." - Jane Wilson, City College Norwich
Part
1. Introduction. Language and Thought. The Nature of Language.
Methods of Studying Language. Problem Solving and Decision Making. The Study
of Problem Solving and Decision Making. Summary. Part
2. The Relationship
Between Language and Thought. Introduction. The Linguistic Relativity
Hypothesis. Thought Determines Language. The Interdependence of Language and
Thought. Summary. Review Exercise. Part
3. Social and Cultural Aspects of
Language. Introduction. Social Class. Ethnic Background. Gender. Summary.
Review Exercise. Part
4. Language Acquisition.Introduction. The Stages of
Language Acquisition. Pre-linguistic. One-word Stage. Development of Grammar.
Meaning and Pragmatics. Summary. Review Exercise. Part 5 Theories of language
acquisition. Introduction. Environmental Theories of Language Acquisition.
Nativist Theories of Language Acquisition. Summary. Review Exercise. Part
6.
Problem-solving. Introduction. Types of Problems. Gestalt Approach.
Information Processing Approach. Information Processing and 'Insight'. Use of
Analogy in Problem Solving. Problem Solving in Everyday Life. Summary. Review
Exercise. Part
7. Decision Making. Introduction. The Heuristics and Biases
Approach to Judgements. Other Factors that Influence Judgements. Evaluation
of the Heuristics and Biases Approach. Theories of Decision Making. Summary.
Review Exercise. Part
8. Study Aids. Glossary. Solutions to Problems.
Bibliography. Index.
Nick Lund is Senior Lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University and is author of Animal Cognition and Attention and Pattern Recognition in the Routledge Modular Psychology series.
