Download Chapter 4 Introduction to Cognitive Science

Chapter 4
Introduction to Cognitive
Science
Cognitive Science
• Interdisciplinary field that studies the mind, intelligence, and
behavior from an information processing perspective
• Provides the scaffolding for the analysis and modeling of
complicated, multifaceted human performance and therefore
has a tremendous effect on the issues impacting informatics.
The end user is the focus since we are concerned with
enhancing the performance in the workplace; in nursing, the
end user could be the actual clinician in the clinical setting,
and cognitive science can enhance the integration and
implementation of the technologies being designed to
facilitate this knowledge worker with the ultimate goal of
improving patient care.
Connectionism
• Component of cognitive science that uses
computer modeling through artificial neural
networks to try to explain human intellectual
abilities.
Neural networks
• Interconnected simple processing devices or simplified
models of the brain and nervous system that consist of
a considerable number of elements or units (analogs of
neurons) linked together in a pattern of connections
(analogs of synapses).
• One that would model the entire nervous system
would have three types of units:
– Input units (analogs of sensory neurons) receive
information to be processed
– Hidden units (analogs to all of the other neurons - not
sensory or motor) work in between input and output units
– Output units (analogs of motor neurons) where the
outcomes or results of the processing are found
Epistemology
• Study of the nature and origin of knowledge—
what it means to know
The whole point in collecting
and building data, information,
and knowledge is to be able to
make informed, judicious,
prudent, and intelligent
decisions.
The decision-making
process evolves around
knowledge and wisdom
Knowledge
• The awareness and understanding of a
set of information and ways that
information can be made useful to
support a specific task or arrive at a
decision; it abounds with others’
thoughts and information or is
information that is synthesized so that
relationships are identified and
formalized.
Wisdom
• Knowledge applied in a practical way or translated into
actions; to use knowledge and experience to heighten
common sense and insight to exercise sound judgment in
practical matters; sometimes thought of as the highest
form of common sense resulting from accumulated
knowledge or erudition (deep, thorough learning) or
enlightenment (education that results in understanding and
the dissemination of knowledge); it is the ability to apply
valuable and viable knowledge, experience, understanding
and insight while being prudent and sensible; is focused on
our own minds; the synthesis of our experience, insight,
understanding, and knowledge; the appropriate use of
knowledge to solve human problems. It is knowing when
and how to apply knowledge.
Cognitive Informatics (CI)
• Wang (2003) describes cognitive informatics (CI)
as an emerging transdisciplinary field of study
that attempts to bridge the gap of understanding
how information is processed in the mind and in
the computer. Computing and informatics
theories can be applied to help understand the
information processing of the brain, and cognitive
and neurological sciences can likewise be applied
to build better and more efficient computer
processing systems.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• The field that deals with the conception,
development, and implementation of
informatics tools based on intelligent
technologies. This field attempts to capture
the complex processes of human thought and
intelligence.
Summary
• Nurses must use their wisdom and make
informed, judicious, prudent, and intelligent
decisions while enacting care
• Cognitive science, cognitive informatics, and
artificial intelligence will continue to evolve to
help us build knowledge and wisdom.