Whereas data-driven processes are assisted very little, if at all, by already-known information, conceptually driven processes are those that rely heavily on such information. Thus, a conceptually driven process uses the information already in memory, and whatever expectations are present in the situation, to perform the task: data-driven processes use only the stimulus information. (1989, p. 64)
Information-processing theories can profitably incorporate this data-driven versus conceptually driven dimension among their components.
5. Knowledge representation:As noted earlier, an issue still far from being resolved is the question of how knowledge in stored in long-term memory. Various answers to this question continue to be offered by different theorists without a consensus being achieved. One conception is Tulving’s(1972) division of memories into episodic and semantic knowledge. Another is J.R. Anderson’s (1983) division of mental storage into declarative memory ( events, facts, concepts--the nature of things) and production memory ( procedural knowladge, opertion--how to do things). It seems clear that any adequate version of information processing needs to include some such conception of knowledge representation.
6. Tacit knowledge and inference:Another matter given too little attention in early models is the issue of how a person’s tacit knowledge (the backlong of information already available in long-term memory ) leads to inferences that embellish the meaning derived from environmental stimuli. An explanation of how people’s system of tacit knowledge and inference operate to determine their understandings can usefully be inserted into versions of information processing.
7. Metacognition:The final item in Ashcraft’s llist is metacognition--our self-awareness and monitoring of how our cognitive system operates. This factor was essentially overlooked in much of the early theorizing about information processing.
With Ashcraft’s seven updated features in mind, we can now consider two ways they can be used to elucidate the nature of children’s cognitive development. First, they can alter method of diagramming an information processing model. Second, they can be applied in our estimating the manner in which children’s cognitive processes develop over the years.