The thesis develops solutions to two main problems for mental realism. Mental realism is the theory that mental properties, events, and objects exist, with their own set of characters and causal powers. The first problem comes from the philosophy of science, where Psillos proposes a notion of scientific realism that contradicts mental realism, and consequently, if one is to be a scientific realist in the way Psillos recommends, one must reject mental realism. I propose adaptations to the conception of scientific realism to make it compatible with mental realism. In the process, the thesis defends computational cognitive science from a compelling argument Searle can be seen to endorse but has not put forth in an organized logical manner. A new conception of scientific realism emerges out of this inquiry, integrating the mental into the rest of nature. The second problem for mental realism arises out of non-reductive physicalism- the view that higher-level properties, and in particular mental properties, are irreducible, physically realized, and that physical properties are sufficient non-overdetermining causes of any effect. Kim’s Problem of Causal Exclusion aims to show that the mental, if unreduced, does no causal work. Consequently, given that we should not believe in the existence of properties that do not participate in causation, we would be forced to drop mental realism. A solution is needed. The thesis examines various positions relevant to the debate. Several doctrines of physicalism are explored, rejected, and one is proposed; the thesis shows the way in which Kim’s reductionist position has been constantly inconsistent throughout the years of debate; the thesis argues that trope theory does not compete with a universalist conception of properties to provide a solution; and shows weakness in the Macdonald’s non-reductive monist position and Pereboom’s constitutional coincidence account of mental causation. The thesis suggests that either the premises of Kim’s argument are consistent, and consequently his reductio is logically invalid, or at least one of the premises is false, and therefore the argument is not sound. Consequently, the Problem of Causal Exclusion that Kim claims emerges out of non-reductive physicalism does not force us to reject mental realism. Mental realism lives on.

Arithmetic cognition research was at one time concerned mostly with the representation and retrieval of arithmetic facts in memory. More recently it was found that memory retrieval does not account for all single digit arithmetic performance. For example, Canadian university students solve up to 40% of basic addition problems using procedural strategies (e.g. 5 + 3 = 5 + 1 + 1 + 1). Given that procedures are less efficient than direct memory retrieval it is important to understand why procedure use is high, even for relatively skilled adults. My dissertation, therefore, sought to expand understanding of strategy choice for adults’ basic arithmetic. Background on this topic and supporting knowledge germane to the topic are provided in Chapter 1. Chapter 2 focused on a well-known, but unexplained, finding: A written word problem (six + seven) results in much greater reported use of procedures (e.g., counting) than the same problem in digits (6 + 7). I hypothesized that this could be the result of a metacognitive effect whereby the low surface familiarity for word problems discourages retrieval. This was tested by familiarizing participants with a subset of the written word stimuli (e.g. three + four = ?, six + nine= ?) and then testing them on unpractised problems comprised of practiced components (four + six = ?). The result was increased retrieval reported for unpractised problems with practiced components. This indicates that surface familiarity contributes to strategy choice. Chapter 3 focused on another classic phenomenon in the arithmetic cognition literature, the problem size effect: Response time, error, and procedure rates increase as a function of problem size. A previous study reported a reduced problem size effect for auditory multiplication problems compared to digit problems. I hypothesized that if this reduction was due to problem encoding processes rather than an effect on calculation per se, then a similar pattern would be observed for addition. Instead, I found that the size effect for addition was larger. I concluded that the auditory format promotes procedures for addition, but promotes retrieval for multiplication. Chapters 4 and 5 were concerned with a well-known methodological issue in the strategy literature, subjectivity of self-reports: Some claim self-reports are more like opinions than objective measures. Thevenot, Fanget, and Fayol (2007) ostensibly solved this problem by probing problem memory subsequent to participants providing an answer. They reasoned that after a more complex procedure, the memory for the original problem would become degraded. The result would be better memory for problems answered by retrieval instead of by procedure. I hypothesized that their interpretation of their findings was conflated with the effect of switching tasks from arithmetic to number memory. I demonstrated that their new method for measuring strategy choice was contaminated by task switching costs, which compromises its application as a measure of strategy choice (Chapter 4). In a subsequent project (Chapter 5), I tested the sensitivity of this new method to detect the effects of factors known in the literature to affect strategy choice. The results indicated that Thevenot et al.’s new method was insensitive to at least one of these factors. Thus, attempts to control for the confounding effects of task switching described in Chapter 4, in order to implement this new measure, are not warranted. The current dissertation expanded understanding of strategy choice in four directions by 1) demonstrating that metacognitive factors cause increases in procedure strategies, 2) by demonstrating that the process of strategy selection is affected differentially by digit and auditory-verbal input, 3) by investigating the validity of an alternative measure of strategy use in experimental paradigms, and 4) by discovering a critical failure in the sensitivity of this new measure to measure the effects of factors known to influence strategy use. General conclusions are discussed in Chapter 6.

La présente thèse de doctorat a eu pour objectif d'étudier les processus cognitifs impliqués dans le traitement d'une information publique délivrée graphiquement en une chaine d'épisodes clefs, présentés selon différents niveaux d'animation et de séquentialité. Cinq messages de perturbation transmis verbalement dans les gares ferroviaires françaises ont été transposés sous une forme visuelle graphique. Six expériences ont été réalisées. Elles avaient pour but de tester l'effet de différentes modalités de présentation sur la compréhension, l'influence du régime de délivrance (séquentiel vs simultané) et du format (statique vs animé) sur l'activation de scripts ou sur la construction de modèles mentaux, d'étudier l'impact de l'organisation des épisodes constituant ces messages sur l'activation de schémas internes, d'analyser le rôle des pictogrammes dans l'activation de concepts en enfin d'évaluer ce matériel dans un environnement reproduisant un contexte de gare, sous pression temporelle. Les résultats ont montré qu'une apparition séquentielle et hiérarchique d'épisodes animés était congruente avec l'organisation des scripts internes des voyageurs. Ils ont également mis en évidence l'impact de l'organisation des épisodes sur l'activation de schémas en mémoire, confirmant d'une part le rôle de "structure fondatrice" du premier épisode et démontrant d'autre part l'effet des relations entre épisodes sur la quantité de traitements engagés. Ils ont révélé que les pictogrammes normalisés et les composants les plus représentatifs d'une catégorie de concepts favorisaient l'activation rapide et efficace de représentations en mémoire. Enfin, l'étude effectuée en condition semi-écologique a confirmé l'efficacité de ce type de message dans un contexte proche de gare sous pression temporelle.

L’objectif de cette thèse est de déterminer l’impact de la distraction du conducteur et de la consommation d’alcool, ainsi que leurs interactions, sur les performances des conducteurs novices. Des mesures subjectives des comportements à risques et des performances objectives sur simulateur de conduite sont recueillies. Une première expérimentation étudie les déterminants psycho-sociaux de la prise de risque et le type de comportements à risques rapportés par les jeunes conducteurs. Des différences en fonction de l’expérience, du sexe et du type de formation suivi ont été mises en évidence indiquant une augmentation des comportements à risques au volant pour les jeunes ayant trois ans de permis, notamment les hommes et ceux ayant suivi un apprentissage traditionnel. La seconde expérimentation s’intéresse aux performances lors d’une tâche d’attention divisée sur simulateur de conduite en fonction de l’expérience, de l’âge et du type d’apprentissage suivi. Les conducteurs novices présentent plus de difficultés à réaliser deux tâches simultanément, notamment lorsque l’une d’elles est particulièrement complexe et/ou se situe en périphérie du champ visuel. Enfin, la troisième expérimentation a pour objectif d’étudier l’impact de faible et forte dose d’alcool sur les performances de jeunes conducteurs, novices et expérimentés, lors d’une tâche d’attention divisée. L’effet délétère classique de l’alcool sur le comportement de conduite à été répliqué mais il est plus prononcé pour les conducteurs novices qui adoptent des comportements plus risqués sous l’emprise de l’alcool, notamment dès de faibles doses d’alcool. Cette recherche permet d’approfondir nos connaissances sur les mécanismes d’actions de la distraction et de l’alcool sur les performances du conducteur, en particulier des novices.

This study examined the relationship between neuropsychological constructs of sensory-motor functioning and cognitive ability constructs in the Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) (Carroll, 1993) theory. Two studies were conducted For the first study, the Dean-Woodcock Sensory Motor Battery (SMB) (Dean & Woodcock, 1999) was administered to 800 individuals. A factor analysis and a confirmatory factor analysis were used to investigate and develop a factor structure of the SMB. Results from this study suggest sensory and motor tests significantly share common variance and a hierarchical, multifactorial model that included a higher-order factor of both sensory and motor tests best fit the data. The second study examined the SMB model, developed in the first study, in relation to the CHC (Cattell-Horn-Carroll) model of cognitive abilities, as measured by the Woodcock-Johnson Revised Tests of Cognitive Abilities (WJ-R) (McGrew, Werder, & Woodcock, 1991). For this study, the SMB and the WJ-R was administered to 411 individuals. A confirmatory model was tested that included the higher-order factor of the SMB as a broad ability within the CHC model. Results from this analysis suggest the higher order factor of the SMB does have a significant relationship with overall measures of cognitive ability of a similar level to other broad abilities in the CHC model, and significantly improves the fit of CHC model. These results support Roberts, Pallier, and Goffs (1999) argument for the inclusion of an additional broad ability in the CHC taxonomy that represents sensory and motor functioning. Additionally, this study provides empirical support for the utility of including neuropsychological tests of sensory and motor functioning in a comprehensive assessment of cognitive abilities (Dean & Woodcock, 1999). The implications for neuropsychological and psychometric assessment are discussed. / Department of Educational Psychology

No description available.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--McMaster University, 2003. / Advisor: Joseph Adamson. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 243-258). Also available via World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Carleton University, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 187-212). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego, 1999. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 140-145).

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Canterbury, 2007. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 86-94). Also available via the World Wide Web.