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The role of (bounded) optimization in theory testing and prediction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 January 2019

Andrew Howes  and
Richard L. Lewis
Andrew Howes
Affiliation:
School of Computer Science, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 3TT, United Kingdom. HowesA@bham.ac.ukhttps://www.cs.bham.ac.uk/~howesa/
Richard L. Lewis
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109. rickl@umich.eduhttp://www-personal.umich.edu/~rickl/
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Abstract

We argue that a radically increased emphasis on (bounded) optimality can contribute to cognitive science by supporting prediction. Bounded optimality (computational rationality), an idea that borrowed from artificial intelligence, supports a priori behavioral prediction from constrained generative models of cognition. Bounded optimality thereby addresses serious failings with the logic and testing of descriptive models of perception and action.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 41 , 2018 , e232
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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