FW: [ACT-R-users] Positive Feedback and Memory strengthening

[Phil Pavlik]

Hi,

 

By definition in ACT-R what you describe strengthens declarative memory.
Since this information passes thru a buffer it is automatically moved into
declarative memory. In fact, according to ACT-R the positive reinforcement
does nothing to strengthen the declarative memory. However, the positive
feedback does allow the student to count the firing of the productions
involved as a success. This increases the likelihood of future attempts to
answer such questions.

 

This second step of considering the utility of the productions underlying a
memory retrieval is frequently not relevant when dealing with high
functioning college students since it is might be safe to assume that such
"question answering" has been highly reinforced in the past and that the
productions are always selected when the left hand side matches. However, in
a younger student, perhaps from a disadvantaged background, simple question
answering productions might not yet have high utility and other productions
like horseplay productions or attention seeking behaviors might have higher
utility. In such a situation, positive reinforcement of the responding to
your question would strengthen the appropriate productions (by signifying
success) and therefore improve performance at the task.

 

Of course, such an explanation might apply to older adults too. I have found
in a paired associate declarative memory task with feedback that the more
overall success an individual has (more success with general productions)
the better they performed overall. This might be explained as an effect of
success on production utility.

 

Phil

 

 

Philip I. Pavlik Jr.

Human Computer Interaction Institute

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA 15213

 

ppavlik at andrew.cmu.edu

http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/ppavlik/

  _____  

From: act-r-users-bounces at act-r.psy.cmu.edu
[mailto:act-r-users-bounces at act-r.psy.cmu.edu] On Behalf Of Markus Eklund
Sent: Monday, February 20, 2006 1:12 AM
To: act-r-users at act-r.psy.cmu.edu
Subject: [ACT-R-users] Positive Feedback and Memory strengthening

 

Hi,

 

Given the following scenario,  I am assuming that a declarative memory will
strengthen.  Can anyone point me to some research data that supports (or
does not) support this assumption?

 

Scenario:

*	Instructor states definition;
*	Sometime later, instructor asks student to recall the definition
(either just recall the definition or use the definition during problem
solving);
*	Student paraphrases the definition, then asks is this correct?
*	Instructor gives positive feedback that the answer is correct.

BR,

 

Markus Eklund

MA in Education Student

San Diego State University

-- 
Good design happens only when designers understand people as well as
technology 

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