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frame

n.

1. in cognitive psychology, a set of parameters defining either a particular mental schema or the wider cognitive structure by which an individual perceives and evaluates the world. See also conceptual system; perceptual set.

2. in artificial intelligence, a knowledge representation scheme, much like an object system, used to represent and structure knowledge for a computational system. [first proposed in 1981 by U.S. mathematician and computer scientist Marvin Minsky (1927–  )]

3. in education, see programmed instruction; linear program.

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Psychology term of the day

January 19th 2025

holism

holism

n. any approach or theory holding that a system or organism is a coherent, unified whole that cannot be fully explained in terms of individual parts or characteristics. The system or organism may have properties as a complete entity or phenomenon in addition to those of its parts. Thus, an analysis or understanding of the parts does not provide an understanding of the whole. —holistic adj.