Concept formation

Concept

1. LOGO
By A.S. Arul Lawrence, Principal, U.S.P. College of Education, Tenkasi

2. Definitions
Conceptisaprocessofrepresentinga
common propertyofobjectsorevents–
Morgan.
Conceptisaprocesswithrepresentsthe
similaritiesinotherwisediverseobjects,
situationsorevents–Munn.
Conceptsarethosethoughtswhichmention
things,incidents,qualities,etc.–Woodworth.
Conceptistheprocessofdiscriminationof
thecommonfeaturesandrelationsinthe
worldofevents,thingsandpersons–
Hammerton.
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3. Meaning of Concept Formation :
•Aconceptisthesumtotalofwhatweknowaboutthe
object.
•Itreferstoageneralizedideaabouttheobjects/persons/
events.Itstandsforageneralclassandnotfora
particularobject/person/event.Itisacommonnamegiven
onthebasisofsimilaritiesorcommonness foundin
differentobjects/persons/events.Thereareconceptsof
objectssuchascat,tree,chairetc.,conceptsofpersons
suchasmother,Indian,Negroetc.,andconceptsof
qualitiessuchashonesty,goodness,obedience.
•Itisamentaldispositionthathelpsinunderstandingthe
meaningoftheobjectsorperceivedearlier.
•Inonesense,itisgeneralmentalimageoftheobjects/
persons/eventsexperiencedorperceivedearlier.
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4. Nature of Concept:
Aconceptisnotstatic,itisalwayschanging.Forexamplefirstachild
considerseventhewallsanddoorstobelivingthings.Thenit
understandstheyarenonliving,considerscars,busesandrunning
objectstobealive.Later,itlearnsthatonlyanimalsandplantsare
living.
Theconceptisnotcommonforall,differentpersonsmayhave
differentconceptaboutthesameobject/events.
Conceptisapartofthoughtprocess.
Conceptcanbeformedwithouttheuseoflanguage.
Concertformationistheassociationofcertainstimuliandresponses.
Conceptistheprocessofdiscriminationofthecommonfeatures.
Conceptsareveryusefulinrecognizing,namingandidentifyingthe
objects/persons/events.
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5. Types of Concept Formation
1.DirectExperience:Itisthefirsttypeofconceptformation,in
whichthelearnerdevelopsconceptthroughdirectexperience
withtheparticularobjects/persons/events.Itisdeveloped
duringfromtheearlychildhoodonwards.Forexample,the
conceptaboutcow.
2.IndirectExperience:Herethelearnerdevelopsconceptthrough
pictures,photosandreadingdescriptions,hearingfromother.
Forexample,theconceptaboutKangaroo.
3.FaultyConcepts:Theconceptsorthegeneralideaswehave
abouttheobjects,personsorevents,arenotalwaysadequateand
accurate.Smallchildrenhavesomanyconceptsthatarequite
erroneousandinadequate.Forexample,one’sanxietyoverthe
crossingofhiswaybyacatorone’sfeelingofhatredtowardsthe
personbelongingtoothercasteorreligionistheresultoffaulty
concepts.Faultyconceptsshouldnotbeallowedtodevelopin
children.
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6. Process of Concept Formation:
Theprocessofconceptformationhasthreeimportantphases.
1.Perception:Experiencesorlearninginanyformisthe
startingpointoftheprocessofconceptformation.Our
perceptionsorimaginaryexperiences,formalorinformal
learning,provideopportunitiesforgettingmentalimagesof
theobjects,personsorevents.
2.Abstraction:Themindanalysestheperceivedimagesand
synthesizeswhatiscommontoall,neglectingwhatis
particular.Thisprocessofobservingsimilaritiesand
commonnessisnamedasabstraction.
3.Generalization:Aftermakingsuchobservationinthe
formofabstractionforanumbersoftimesthechildisable
togeneralizeorformageneralideaaboutthecommon
propertiesofsomeobjectsorevents.Onaccountofthis
generalization,hewilldevelopaconceptaboutthesethings
orevents.
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7. Concept Formation:
Forexample,thechildperceivesablackcowatthefirst
timeandistoldthatitisacow,hetriestoformanidea
aboutit.Inthebeginningtheideaisveryparticularin
nature.
Lateron,whenheperceivesawhiteorredcowhedoes
notatonce,callitacow.Heagainmakesanenquiry
andcomestothatthesearecows.Hetriestocompare
theparticularmentalimagetheideaofthepreviously
perceivedcowwiththeimagesheishaving,atpresent,
byperceivingwhiteandredcows.
Inthiswayhecomparesandcontraststhesimilarities
ordissimilaritiesofhismentalimagesrelatedtoall
perceivedcows.Inspiteofthedifferencesincolour,
appearanceetc.,theyarefoundtopossesssomany
commonpropertiesorcharacteristics.
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8. Piaget’s Cognitive Development
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9. LOGO