Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
information and because it repeats the same actions (operation) many times, leads
to choosing increasingly stable and flexible cognitive structures.
The stage of information overload and superfluous data elimination can be
equated with the stage of data pre-processing during which the information con-
tained in the analysed data is reduced in such a way that significant information
searched for is not lost, but at the same time this process finally produces a new
data representation significant for the conducted analysis process.
Unlike the defined cognitive processes, cognitive structures are relatively per-
manent in the process of defining cognitive categorisation systems, and the system
can use those structures many times in various conditions and situations.
Cognitive categorisation systems operate not just depending on the regularity of
the cognitive processes executed to correctly classify the data type, but also based
on a defined notion apparatus contained in the appropriate type of expert knowl-
edge bases. This type of knowledge bases is created by expert teams using various
knowledge elements, convictions and cognitive schemes, and are then utilised in
cognitive data analysis and interpretation processes. The information collected by
the system is used to confront (compare) the characteristic features it distinguished
during the data analysis process with certain expectations which the system has
generated based on expert knowledge. This comparison is possible at various lay-
ers of data processing, which means that the same data can be analysed with vari-
ous intensities and care, i.e. at various layers of data processing. The extent to
which our data will be analysed depends on the demands of the situation (e.g. the
external one) or the cognitive problem formulated. The multi-layer processing and
analysis of data is quite widespread, as it reflects one of the elementary features of
the human mind. Regardless of the selected layer for data processing and analysis,
the comparison of expectations and features characteristic for the analysed data
leads to cognitive resonance, which causes the analysed data to be understood.
Data understanding processes require understanding the semantic contents of the
analysed data, so at this operating stage of the cognitive categorisation systems,
semantic reasoning takes place (about the meaning conveyed by the analysed
data).
The semantic reasoning stage parallels the cognitive categorisation process, as a
result of which objects are gathered into certain groups whose common character-
istic is the set of joint features assigned a verbal label serving as the linguistic rep-
resentation of the specific group. The linguistic representation found in cognitive
categorisation processes comes from a natural language, and when it is applied in
system processes, it comes from the computer language.
Semantic reasoning and cognitive categorisation processes become the starting
point for determining the directions of subsequent treatment of the analysed data
(i.e. taking a decision for the future).
3.3 Properties of Cognitive Categorisation Systems
Referring to the definition, presented in the previous chapter, of cognitive catego-
risation systems used for data analysis, interpretation and reasoning based on its
