© University of Kent - Contact | Feedback | Legal | Cookies
The University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NZ, T +44 (0)1227 764000
Dr Janet BriggsLecturer in Psychology at the University of Kent at Medway |
 |
Research interests
My research interests are in cognitive psychology. I am currently interested in human reasoning, heuristics and biases, particularly individual differences in reasoning and relationships between magical thinking and evidence evaluation. Other interests include repetition priming, cognitive skill acquisition, ‘implicit’ memory and ‘implicit’ learning, memory illusions and directed forgetting, hemispheric differences in semantic priming, and the roles of prior knowledge in reasoning and categorisation.
Key publications
Heit, E., Briggs, J., & Bott, L. (2004). Modeling the effects of prior knowledge on learning incongruent features of category members. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 30, 1065-1081.
Briggs, J., Kirsner, K. and Maybery, M. (1995). Repetition priming and skill acquisition, 30th Annual Conference of the Australian Psychological Society, Perth, Australian Journal of Psychology (Supplement), 47: p 59.
Also view these in the Kent Academic Repository
Articles
Heit, E. and Briggs, J. and Bott, L. (2004)
Modeling the effects of prior knowledge on learning incongruent features of category members.
Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition,, 30 (5). pp. 1065-1081. ISSN 0278-7393.
Abstract
The authors conducted 3 experiments addressing the issue of how observations and multiple sources of prior knowledge are put together in category learning. In Experiments 1 and 2, learning was faster for critical features, which were predictable on the basis of prior knowledge, than for filler features, and this advantage increased as more observations were made. In addition, learning was fastest for incongruent features that could only be predicted using knowledge from other domains. In Experiment 3, presenting contradictory features that violated prior knowledge led to rote learning rather than use of prior knowledge. The results were simulated with the Baywatch model, which addresses how observations of category members lead to recruitment and selection of sources of prior knowledge.
Modules convened (Medway)
SP625 Human Cognition
SO551 Research Methods (Psychology)
SP630 Applied Cognitive Psychology
SP631 Psychology of Social Cognition
SP310 Introduction to Psychology
SP627 Forensic Psychology
SP628 Psychology of Emotion and Motivation
SP629 Developmental Psychology
SP624 Individual Differences
SP622 Psychopathology
| University of Kent at Canterbury | University of Kent at Medway | ||
| Address: |
School of Psychology |
Room G3-06 Gillingham Building Chatham Maritime Kent ME4 4AG United Kingdom |
|
| Tel: | +44 (0)1227 823542 | +44 (0) 1634 888908 | |
| Fax: | +44 (0)1227 827030 | +44 (0) 1634 888926 | |
| Email: | J.Briggs@kent.ac.uk | ||
| Office at Canterbury: | Keynes A2.11 | ||
| Office Hours: | Please contact for an appointment |