This thesis explores the use of artificial neural networks for modelling cognitive processes. It presents an exposition of the neural network paradigm, and evaluates its viability in relation to the classical, symbolic approach in cognitive science. Classical researchers have approached the description of cognition by concentrating mainly on an abstract, algorithmic level of description in which the information processing properties of cognitive processes are emphasised. The approach is founded on seminal ideas about computation, and about algorithmic description emanating, amongst others, from the work of Alan Turing in mathematical logic. In contrast to the classical conception of cognition, neural network approaches are based on a form of neurocomputation in which the parallel distributed processing mechanisms of the brain are highlighted. Although neural networks are generally accepted to be more neurally plausible than their classical counterparts, some classical researchers have argued that these networks are best viewed as implementation models, and that they are therefore not of much relevance to cognitive researchers because information processing models of cognition can be developed independently of considerations about implementation in physical systems. In the thesis I argue that the descriptions of cognitive phenomena deriving from neural network modelling cannot simply be reduced to classical, symbolic theories. The distributed representational mechanisms underlying some neural network models have interesting properties such as similarity-based representation, content-based retrieval, and coarse coding which do not have straightforward equivalents in classical systems. Moreover, by placing emphasis on how cognitive processes are carried out by brain-like mechanisms, neural network research has not only yielded a new metaphor for conceptualising cognition, but also a new methodology for studying cognitive phenomena. Neural network simulations can be lesioned to study the effect of such damage on the behaviour of the system, and these systems can be used to study the adaptive mechanisms underlying learning processes. For these reasons, neural network modelling is best viewed as a significant theoretical orientation in the cognitive sciences, instead of just an implementational endeavour. / Psychology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Psychology)

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:26:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-03-18Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:13:57Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 dalevedove_pr_me_mar.pdf: 1744018 bytes, checksum: 8292220daf686719ad282b971f675eb6 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Considerando-se que o processo de conhecimento individual é socialmente condicionado, torna-se necessário o estudo do contexto sóciocognitivo do processamento da informação. Sob essa vertente, o foco dos estudos de abordagem sóciocognitiva amplia a perspectiva individual para contextos sócioculturais. Por conseguinte, entende-se que o profissional da informação enraizado no processo de tratamento temático da informação deva ser analisado dentro de seu contexto sóciocultural que abrange a formação e atuação profissional, ou seja, o saber e o fazer profissional condicionados ao contexto institucional. Assim, as ações e pensamentos que orientam objetiva e/ou subjetivamente a atuação profissional no tratamento temático da informação devem ser investigados para que os profissionais atuem de modo condizente e com um nível maior de segurança no contexto de bibliotecas universitárias, visando diminuir/eliminar incoerências ou omissões e dar maior consistência para a criação de produtos informacionais. Desse modo, propôs-se realizar estudo sóciocognitivo da comunidade de aprendizagem que realiza o tratamento temático da informação mediante interações no ambiente de trabalho, a fim de obter um diagnóstico da percepção profissional com relação às etapas e produtos gerados no âmbito de bibliotecas universitárias. Objetivando-se propiciar considerações relevantes a elaboração de uma política de tratamento da informação documental pela perspectiva profissional, os objetivos específicos foram: a) evidenciar o movimento interdisciplinar na contemporaneidade e, a partir deste entendimento, refletir a abordagem cognitiva na Ciência da Informação pela vertente das Ciências Cognitivas; b) compreender a investigação temática em Ciência da Informação, a fim de contextualizar o tratamento temático da informação pela abordagem sóciocognitiva;... / Considering that the process of individual knowledge is socially conditioned, it is necessary to study the context of social-cognitive information processing. Under this component, the focus of studies of social-cognitive approach broadens the perspective to individual sociocultural contexts. Therefore, it is understood that the information profession rooted in the process of thematic treatment of information must be analyzed within its sociocultural context which includes training and professional performance, or professional knowledge and practice conditioned by institutional context. Thus, the actions and thoughts that guide objective and / or professional performance subjectively in thematic treatment information should be investigated for professionals to act in a manner consistent with a greater level of security in the context of university libraries in order to reduce / eliminate inconsistencies or omissions and provide greater consistency for the creation of information products. Thus, it was proposed in a study of social cognitive learning community that performs the processing of thematic information through interactions in the workplace in order to get a professional diagnosis of perception with regard to the steps and products generated within university libraries. Aiming to provide relevant considerations to developing a treatment policy of the documentary material by professional perspective, the specific objectives were: a) highlight the interdisciplinary movement in the contemporary world and, from this view, reflect the cognitive approach in Information Science by strand Cognitive Science, b) understand the thematic research in information science in order to contextualize the thematic treatment of information by the sociocognitive approach, c) check through the process of professional perception thematic treatment of the information in the context ...(Complete abstract click electronic address below)

Cette thèse apporte une analyse documentée sur la décentralisation malienne appréhendée au prisme des partenariats entre les Régions de Tombouctou et Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes d’une part et entre la Région Koulikoro et la Coopération technique belge d’autre part, en faisant appel aux Policy Transfer Studies (PTS) et à l’approche cognitive et normative des politiques publiques. Elle fait d’abord une analyse succincte de l’historique de la mise en œuvre de la réforme de décentralisation remontant à la genèse de l’Etat malien (1960). Après la transition politique amorcée à la fin du mois de mars 1991 au Mali, la mise en œuvre de la décentralisation a pris une importance cruciale pour le devenir même du pays, notamment depuis la rébellion touarègue qui continue à sévir dans le nord du pays. Pour autant, après plus de deux décennies et malgré quelques acquis non négligeables, cette réforme demeure confrontée à divers obstacles.Ensuite, elle fait le bilan des projets d’appui à la décentralisation dans les Régions de Tombouctou et Koulikoro notamment à travers leurs partenariats respectifs. Sur ce sujet, la thèse met un accent particulier sur la pertinence des appuis réalisés, leur alignement à la politique nationale de décentralisation mais aussi des difficultés d’appropriation qui entravent la réussite du transfert des modèles du « développement local » promus par les partenaires techniques et financiers. Cette thèse démontre que, faute de moyens financiers suffisants alloués par le gouvernement malien à la réforme de décentralisation, celle-ci se trouve de fait dans une situation de dépendance quasi-totale à l’aide financière et technique internationale. De plus ce travail démontre que le nouvel engagement financier du gouvernement malien relatif au transfert de 30 % des recettes publiques aux collectivités territoriales à l'horizon 2018 ne confère pas suffisamment de marge de manœuvre aux collectivités territoriales. Enfin, cette thèse s’accompagne d’un travail analytique sur les principaux résultats du diagnostic relatifs aux obstacles à la décentralisation au Mali en général et formule un certain nombre de préconisations pour aider à surmonter lesdits obstacles. / This thesis provides a documented analysis of Malian decentralization through the prism of partnerships between the regions of Timbuktu and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, and between the Koulikoro Region and the Belgian Technical Cooperation. The thesis utilises Policy Transfer Studies (PTS) and the cognitive and normative approach toward public policies. It begins with a concise analysis regarding the history of the decentralization reform, implemented alongside the genesis of the Malian State (1960). After the political transition in Mali that began at the end of March 1991, the implementation of decentralization became crucial for the future of the country, especially with respect to the Tuareg rebellion. After more than two decades and in spite of some significant gains, however, this reform still faces various obstacles, which are explored throughout. This thesis then turns toward the projects supporting decentralization in the Timbuktu and Koulikoro Regions, particularly those founded in their respective partnerships. Special emphasis will be placed on the relevance of the support provided, their alignment with the national decentralization policy, and in addition the difficulties of ownership, which hinder the transfer of the "local development" models promoted by the technical and financial partners. This thesis demonstrates that, due to the lack of sufficient financial resources allocated by the Malian government to decentralization reform, this one is in fact in a situation of almost total dependence on international financial and technical assistance. In addition, this project illustrates that the Malian government's new financial commitment to transfer 30% of public revenue to local authorities for 2018 does not give local authorities enough leeway. Finally, this thesis concludes with an analytical overview of the diagnosis relating to the obstacles to decentralization in Mali as a whole, and provides a number of recommendations to help overcome these obstacles