Manuel Pelegrina

Measuring the Typicality of Objects Included in Environmental Scenes: A First Scale

Many researchers have been using the concept of “typicality” to explain the influence of knowledge structures on processing visual stimuli. In this paper we try to establish a preliminary method for measuring the typicality of natural objects contained in environmental scenes. The results are discussed in the context of research on how objects in scenes are identified. We also suggest that scales of typicality continue to be developed.

TYPICAL AND ATYPICAL INFORMATION AS STRUCTURAL CATEGORIES IN THE INSTRUCTIONAL PROCESSES

Research into the acquisition of knowledge incorporated in schema showed that the recognition of typical and atypical events decreases differently over a retention interval. In addition, the models of a priori probability of response have proven useful when applied to recognition memory in the study of schema. The main aim of this research has been to extend the above findings to a classroom situation. The script “Going to school” was compiled by 8- or 9-yr.-old children and the events of the script were divided into typical and atypical. A recognition task was carried out over five retention periods. The recognition scores were calculated as ratios of hits to false alarms, and the probability effects were corrected using the memory score formula (MS). Analysis confirmed that typical and atypical events are processed in a different manner over different retention periods and permitted suggesting some applications in both learning and instructional processes, especially in initial teaching of subject matter and in planning of activities.

FIGURE-GROUND PERCEPTUAL ORGANIZATION AND LEARNING BY THREE-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN ','

We have elaborated a program for the instruction of 54 3-yr.-olds using visual aids (cards showing the graphic representation of a number printed on three different types of backgrounds). Analysis showed differences in the increase in scores obtained by the children before and after the application of the program depending on the type of background.