729g12
Distributed and situated cognition
Examination writing assignment 2015
Write a text approx. 3 pages long (references not included) that answers the following question:
Hutchins suggests that a fundamental error was made when the view of thinking as
internal mental computation and the PSS-hypothesis was established within
cognitive science. According to Hutchins, this error led, among other things, to
neglect of cultural aspects of cognition and misinterpretation of similarities between
human and machine cognition. What was this error? According to Hutchins, how did
this error occur? Also mention additional consequences for the idea of cognition
that this fault gave rise to, and how research on cognition can and should be
conducted according to Hutchins. Do you share Hutchins´s opinions? Motivate your
opinions!
In a way this is just a longer version of an exam question, but with the important difference that in this
case content and language is evaluated in terms of stringency, coherence, logical sound arguments and
similar aspects. Further, the text will be evaluated on the use of correct referencing and other qualities
relating to proper technical writing. The answer should therefore be written as much as possible as a
publishable text.
The reader population are students in a cognitive science education program without prior coursework
in distributed and situated cognition.
The text will be evaluated according to both content and form. For the grade “C” regarding content it
is necessary to have an essentially correct answer to the question. Minor misconceptions of state of
opinions can be accepted. Regarding language and writing the text should have an acceptable structure
and coherence. Minor errors can be accepted. For the grade “A” regarding content the text should have
a completely correctly answered question where the underlying reasoning of your own and referenced
conclusions are well-grounded. Regarding language and writing the text should be well-structured and
be very good in terms of content and language progression.
The assignment is not about spelling and grammar. Texts that are full of spelling errors or other
language errors will be returned to the author before being graded. For those who would like to
improve their written work, consider the “Språkverkstaden”. They help students with oral and written
presentations. The help is free of charge and is available both in Linköping and Norrköping. More
information is available in the lecture slides on academic writing.
A first version of your answer is sent to the members of your group (that are set on the lecture Oct.13)
and mattias.kristiansson@liu.se before the end of October 23, 2015. The final version is sent to
matkr28.liu@analys.urkund.se before the end of November 6, 2015.
(For more information on Urkund, see www.urkund.se/se/om-urkund)