Examples, rules, and strategies in the control of dynamic systems.

Title data

Schoppek, Wolfgang:
Examples, rules, and strategies in the control of dynamic systems.
In: Cognitive Science Quarterly. Vol. 2 (2002) Issue 1 . - pp. 63-92.
ISSN 1466-6553

Project information

Abstract in another language

Two main types of knowledge are considered relevant to successful control of dynamic systems: input-output knowledge (I-O-knowledge), which represents specific input values together with the corresponding output values, and structural knowledge, defined as general knowledge about the variables of a system and their causal relations. While I-O-knowledge has proven important for the control of small systems, structural knowledge is expected to enhance performance when dealing with more complex systems. In an experiment, structural knowledge about a complex system was manipulated. Although the experimental group had better structural knowledge, the control group was equally successful in reaching new goals. That seems to contradict other studies where effects of structural knowledge on performance have been found. To resolve these contradictions, the consideration of a third type of knowledge--strategic knowledge--is suggested. The postulated effects of different levels of structural and strategic knowledge are explored with a computational model. The three knowledge types are used to interpret the variety of findings within a unitary conceptual framework.