The Predictive Effect of Cognitive Flexibility and Probability Knowledge on Probability Category Learning

Abstract

We investigated the predictive effects of learners’ cognitive flexibility and probability knowledge on probability category learning. A number-letter switch task was to measure cognitive flexibility, a self-designed probability knowledge questionnaire to estimate probability knowledge, and two probability category learning tasks (with cues: Coin searching task; no cue: Picture selection task) were analyzed. The regression analysis showed that in the coin searching task, cognitive flexibility alone can predict whether the rules had acquired in probability category learning. In the picture search task, both cognitive flexibility and probability knowledge factors predicted rule acquisition. It reveals that the predictive effect of cognitive flexibility on probability category learning is consistent across tasks, while the predictive effect of probability knowledge varies with specific task characteristics