TOK Entry - Memory

Memory Test

Try some memory tests online; write a field notebook entry (Q3) about your experience, what you noticed about yourself and about memory in general. What strategies do you use to remember things? How good do you think your memory is compared to other people? 

I tried the Brain Metrix, BBC Face Memory Test and the Short Term Memory Test. I did three trials for the Brain Metrix and ended at level 6, 7, 8 in consecutive order. I think I used the first and second test to understand the patterns. I tried to memorize the highlighted rectangles by repeating them in my head. I repeated the number and the place of the rectangles but after the first few levels, I found it more difficult to memorize them. 

For the BBC Face Memory Test I tried to find certain characteristics that stood out in each picture. I didn't know the test would make me sort out the pictures so I wasn't paying much attention on which section the picture belongs to. I was able to identify all the pictures that were not presented in the test but I was unsuccessful at dividing them to the section I saw. I scored high on recognition memory but low on temporal memory. From this I was able to learn that I had more difficulty with memorizing "when" I saw it. 
Lastly, for the Short Term Memory Test, I used a similar strategy that I used for the Brain Metrix but instead of repeating them in my head I repeated them orally. I would look for a certain rhyme and tried to remember the sound of each letter. I was successful for all trials except trial 6 where I missed 1 letter. I speculated that maybe my memory was limited to storing 5 letters. 
I believe my memory is about average because there are many other people around me who have remarkably good memory. Compared to others, I believe my memory is rather average. According to the BBC Memory Test, I have a memory higher than average but I don't think it is safe to rely on one test only. In conclusion, based on the memory tests I may have better memory for recognition but compared to other people, I believe I am relatively low.

BBC Face Memory Test Results

Field Blog Entry #14 - Logical Fallacies (TOK)

Reflection on Fallacies

Logical fallacies are invalid patterns of reasoning that leads to false conclusions. There are many types of fallacies including inductive fallacies and casual fallacies. The logical fallacies presentation really helped me understand about them especially hasty generalization which was what I researched about. Hasty generalization is an example of inductive fallacy and happens when the sample is too small to support an inductive generalization about a population. When someone draws conclusion based on small evidence rather than looking at statistics, that support the conclusions, it leaves an argument incomplete or invalid. One example of logical fallacies is: none of the children in this classroom have blonde hair therefore there are no blonde children at this school.

Even though reasoning can be very helpful in supporting arguments but fallacies are dangerous when coming to conclusions. Some fallacies may not be dangerous but reaching the wrong conclusion can lead to stereotypes and misunderstanding. The video of “Love is a Fallacy” showed how fallacies are applicable and found in many situations in our life. Reflecting on past experience, I realized that I also had the wrong premises and had logical but untrue conclusions. This is why it is important to have the correct premises and come up with a sound and true conclusion. 

     

Field Blog Entry #13 - Understanding Comics (IB Class)

Understanding Comics

During my IBH Literature class, we were required to read a book called "Understanding Comics" by Scott McCloud. The author explains that comics use language and sense perception, both of which are ways of knowledge in TOK, to help understand comics.

Inside the comic book, the author states that “language was becoming even more direct, conveying meaning simply and quickly, more like pictures.” By saying this, Scott McCloud emphasizes that words have become so developed that it has become similar to pictures where an event is visually told. Instead of distracting the reader from the story, language is now helping people have a balanced understanding through both words and pictures. In addition, the caption in comics and the dialogue used by the characters can portray a huge range of human experiences and emotions.

If there is no language used in comics then people will tend to interpret the same event differently. Pictures merely help the reader visually see the event but they will use reasoning in order to make sense of an event using their own logic, judgment and experience. Sense perception is used when people perceive the pictures used in graphic novels differently. Our internal constructions (cognitive) may differ from the external world (reality) and the different interpretations of what people see may be equally valid.

Through this comic book, which explained the history, techniques and other important usage in comics, I acknowledged that the ways of knowledge is relatable to many subjects. It was quite surprising to find that both language and sense perception was important in understanding comics. This book helped me analyze and understand another graphic novel I read in IB Literature Higher Level class, “Persepolis”, which proved the fact that learning the different ways of knowledge can be applied to comics and further my understanding. I was able to comprehend that the ways of knowledge in Theory of Knowledge is used widely in many sources.

Field Blog Entry #12 - Reasoning (TOK)

Reasoning - when do we use it and how useful is it? 

Reason is one way of knowledge in TOK that can be used to understand known facts and support arguments. Reasoning can be distinguished between inductive and deductive. Both have strengths and weaknesses and this can be related to the “Newsweek: The Limits of Reason” by Sharon Begley. Deductive reasoning is when specific conclusion is drawn from general statements. It is less informative but more certain and can be valid logic but untrue. Inductive reasoning uses specific instances, based on experience and observation, to make a general conclusion. We use it to make generalization about the world based on past experience. In contrast to deductive reasoning, inductive is more informative but less certain. 

Confirmation bias is one example of a problem with inductive reasoning and it is the people’s tendency to see or remember only evidence that confirms or supports their beliefs. In the article, it states that “the reason we succumb to confirmation bias, why we are blind to counterexamples… is that these lapses have a purpose: they help us “devise and evaluate arguments that are intended to persuade other people.”” I think the quote is implying that confirmation bias may be dangerous in reasoning but it helps us acknowledge and improve our argument which is how reason is used. Inductive reasoning can help to strengthen an argument if used right which is what the article is saying. In addition, Begley states that “failures of logic are in fact effective ploys to win arguments.” This adds further support for the fact that reasoning, which uses logic that may be right or wrong to be informative, can be efficient in debates and arguments.

In addition, reasoning is very helpful because “we tend to look harder for flaws in a study when we don’t agree with its conclusions and are more critical of evidence that undermines our point of view.” This is a condition that needs to be met to know that your conclusions are true. Making sure that your premises are logical and true is important in coming up with a good conclusion. By making people be attentive for flaws, which may be true or false, it prepares them with new arguments and be convincing. According to the article, “reason is supposed to be the highest achievement of the human mind, and the route to knowledge and wise decisions.” I agree with this quote because through reasoning, one can fix their failures and improve their reasoning to come up with successful arguments and make wise, true conclusions. True premises lead to true conclusions so if people become more careful with their reasoning they will be able to make good conclusions. 

Field Blog Entry #11 - Standards of Beauty (Personal)

Ideal Beauty in Korean Culture 

Korean people have been influenced greatly by the Korean popular culture. Many people who live outside of Korea, for example, America, find it difficult to understand the people's obsession of the ideal weight and appearance. I came upon an article written by a Korean American who visited Korea for the first time. 

Charlene Chae, a Korean American, visits Korea for the first time and finds out that her mother isn't the only one who thinks she is overweight. "an entire nation does". This statement relates to the general mindset of Koreans that "having nice body is a purpose of everyone in society." The standards of beauty in Korea differ greatly to those of America. People have a tendency or inclination to be like their ideal celebrities in Korea which causes people to be all thin and perform plastic surgery on their face. 

In order for someone to understand the standard beauty of Korea, one must have knowledge on the cultural pressures of Koreans. Many Koreans are subject to the pressures of the society and thus believe that they must have an ideal weight or face to be attractive or beautiful. Korea's "image-centric views" cause people to be self-conscious about their selves. I raised concerns on why people must have an ideal weight or appearance in order to be accepted. 

It is true that having a nice body is more physically attractive but is it morally ethical to exclude or condemn people who do not fall into the category of having the ideal beauty. 
I believe the purpose of one's role in society is to make significant contributions that are related to culture, society or economics. People should not be criticized for not having the ideal weight or appearance because every single person is unique. From this article, I wanted to point out that having an ideal beauty is not important and it is unmoral for people to feel insignificant in society because of their appearances. 

http://lifestyle.ca.msn.com/real-life/inner-you/do-i-look-fat-in-this-country-a-look-at-beauty-ideals-in-korean-culture-1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bPhGAmfD-Q

Field Blog Entry #10 - TOK Point in the Cell Theory (IB Class)

The Cell Theory 

I have finally come upon topic 2 in Biology Standard Level, which is about cells. The cell theory states the following: living organisms are composed of cells, cells are the smallest unit of life and cells come from pre-existing cells. This theory has been developed over time as scientists made discoveries, disproved old theories and developed what we currently know as the cell theory. Scientists first looked through the microscope to study the structures of organisms and discovered that all living organisms were made up of small units, now known as cells. Several experiments conducted by the scientists showed that cells removed from tissues can survive independently for short periods of time. For example, in 1839, Theodor Schwann discovered that animals were made up of cells and stated that “all living things are composed of cells and cell products”. This hypothesis was supported by sufficient evidence and thus became part of the cell theory.

Based on this information, the cell theory raises the question of the difference between a scientific theory and the more general use of the word theory. The nature of scientific theories can be introduced by deciding whether a theory should be discarded when there is clear evidence that it does not offer a full explanation and what kind of evidence needs to be collected in order for a theory to be accepted or rejected. This matter talks about the accumulation of evidence that allows a hypothesis to become theory like the cell theory.  

        

Field Blog Entry #9 - Visual Perception (Personal)

Are blue foods as cool as the color implies? 

I came upon this article a few days ago while researching about colors and visual perception. Curry is a famous food that people enjoy. Its colors tend to vary but it stays close to the shades of red and yellow. Blue curry is uncommon and unfamiliar to many people. One restaurant in Japan came up with the idea of blue curry and people were seen to reject automatically. The restaurant assures that the blue color is caused by food coloring and the ingredients are the same. But people become “doused” by the “blindingly blue liquid”. People naturally look for the correspondence between the food and their experiences of color. They feel uncomfortable and foreign towards the curry because the food and the color does not correspond.

Blue-colored food is actually used in many places or restaurants around the world to reduce hunger. It has been proved that people tend to order food with blue coloring because it helps them with their diet. They lose their appetite because of the unfamiliarity of the color of the food and thus be successful in reducing weight. 

During our Theory of Knowledge class, we defined visual perception as the “perceptual process that is not structured to record data but to organize meaning”. Because of cognitive processing people tend to interpret what they visually see. People expect certain colors or characteristics when they see something so their “mind blanks out” when it doesn’t fit their expectations. Sense perception is one of the ways of knowledge but people “tend to look for meaning in what we see and group the perceptual experiences”. This is known as visual grouping as stated by Van de Lagemaat.

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2012/11/15/bright-blue-curry-and-intense-disgusting-juice-on-the-menu-at-niconico-cafe-not-for-the-faint-of-stomach/

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2013/07/19/are-blue-foods-as-cool-as-the-color-implies-we-try-blue-curry-ramen-and-beer/