Is Experts' Knowledge Modular?

This paper explores, both with empirical data and with computer simulations, the extent to which modularity characterises experts' knowledge. We discuss a replication of Chase and Simon's (1973) classic method of identifying 'chunks', i.e., perceptual patterns stored in memory an...

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Main Author: Gobet, Fernand
Format: Conference or Workshop Item
Published: Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum. 2001
Subjects:
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/63/
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author Gobet, Fernand
author_facet Gobet, Fernand
author_sort Gobet, Fernand
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description This paper explores, both with empirical data and with computer simulations, the extent to which modularity characterises experts' knowledge. We discuss a replication of Chase and Simon's (1973) classic method of identifying 'chunks', i.e., perceptual patterns stored in memory and used as units. This method uses data about the placement of pairs of items in a memory task and consists of comparing latencies between these items and the number and type of relations they share. We then compare the human data with simulations carried out with CHREST, a computer model of perception and memory. We show that the model, based upon the acquisition of a large number of chunks, accounts for the human data well. This is taken as evidence that human knowledge is organised in a modular fashion.
first_indexed 2025-11-14T18:11:26Z
format Conference or Workshop Item
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institution University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus
institution_category Local University
last_indexed 2025-11-14T18:11:26Z
publishDate 2001
publisher Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
recordtype eprints
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spelling nottingham-632020-05-04T20:32:44Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/63/ Is Experts' Knowledge Modular? Gobet, Fernand This paper explores, both with empirical data and with computer simulations, the extent to which modularity characterises experts' knowledge. We discuss a replication of Chase and Simon's (1973) classic method of identifying 'chunks', i.e., perceptual patterns stored in memory and used as units. This method uses data about the placement of pairs of items in a memory task and consists of comparing latencies between these items and the number and type of relations they share. We then compare the human data with simulations carried out with CHREST, a computer model of perception and memory. We show that the model, based upon the acquisition of a large number of chunks, accounts for the human data well. This is taken as evidence that human knowledge is organised in a modular fashion. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum. 2001 Conference or Workshop Item PeerReviewed Gobet, Fernand (2001) Is Experts' Knowledge Modular? In: Proceedings of the 23rd Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society. modularity expertise knowledge pattern chunk memory chess
spellingShingle modularity
expertise
knowledge
pattern
chunk
memory
chess
Gobet, Fernand
Is Experts' Knowledge Modular?
title Is Experts' Knowledge Modular?
title_full Is Experts' Knowledge Modular?
title_fullStr Is Experts' Knowledge Modular?
title_full_unstemmed Is Experts' Knowledge Modular?
title_short Is Experts' Knowledge Modular?
title_sort is experts' knowledge modular?
topic modularity
expertise
knowledge
pattern
chunk
memory
chess
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/63/