A Model for Explorations into Cognitive Science Research. No. 49.

Because computer-oriented researchers apply cognitive notions such as meaning, symbol and understanding, or concept, cognition and knowledge, it has become mandatory to inquire into the traditional explanatory models of science, including behaviourism. The article outlines the steering and control mechanism that has governed a new outlook in which subjective mental states become functionally interactive and essential for a full explanation of conscious behaviour. The presented model has governed a comprehensive exploration into Cognitive Science. Its purpose was to digest the viewpoints of "hard" science and to compare the transformation with the value-assumption underlying many of the approaches favoured by behavioural scientists. Advanced methods have been developed. For this reason, they have been analysed with respect to changes in both intention and orientation. These processes are highly dependent on the relations between natural language expressions and their underlying mentality. It is demonstrated that the frequently occurring non-additive effects of cognitive functions as design variables necessitate a research effort that concentrates on the instrumental functions of natural language. Each of the identified functions is studied as variable on the basis of a recurrent two-by-two factorial design. The approach stresses the fact that a variable in one developmental phase is treated as independent variable, whereas its re-appearance in the succeeding phase results in its treatment as dependent variable. The study of co-variation and interaction of the variables seems to be the only way to shed light on the confounded discussion of the traditional science-value dichotomy in Cognitive Science. The new methodological approach consists of a calculus that preserves responsibility as its constituent component. The calculus has progressively been introduced during the development of the presented double helical architecture, which is the result of an unfolding of the AaO-formula into a cognitive system. Seven figures illustrate the discussion. (Contains 82 references.) (Author)