Poletiek, Ms dr. F.H. (Fenna)
| Telephone number: | +31 (0)71 527 3641 |
| E-Mail: | poletiek@fsw.leidenuniv.nl |
| Faculty / Department: | Faculteit der Sociale Wetenschappen, Instituut Psychologie, Sectie Cognitieve Psychologie |
| Office Address: |
Pieter de la Court gebouw Wassenaarseweg 52 2333 AK Leiden Room number 2B24 |
- Dr. F. Poletiek was KNAW (Netherlands Royal Academy of Arts and Sciences)-fellow until january 2004. She has conferred a doctor's degree on research in reasoning and deciding; especially hypothesis testing behaviour. In the past, she has studied applications of this research to juridical decisions. Presently, she studies cognitive grammar induction:Implicit learning of grammatical rules.
- Research Interests
- 1. Cognitive grammar induction
In 1997 a research project on cognitive grammar induction was started. Grammar induction is the phenomenon that people abstract grammar knowledge from stimuli being generated by that grammar. The most fascinating natural case obviously is natural grammar induction. We study the phenomenon experimentally by using artificial languages and grammars. Mostly, behavioural measures are observed, and currently EEG studies are in preparation. We propose formal statistical models to generate predictions and account for our observations.
As a distinctive feature of our approach, we explain successful grammar induction as a result of a narrow fit between general cognitive learning mechanisms and features of the environmental input. Moreover, dr Esther van den Bos studied unconscious goal directed grammar learning. E.g., learners unconsciously select only the most simple interpretation of the structures in the stimuli, they need to use them for their task.
Collaboration-
Students:
Dr Esther van den Bos. Post doc (Amsterdam University; Leiden University)
Jun Lai. (PhD student): Sampling characteristics of stimuli in artificial grammar learning.
Several master and bachelor students -
Faculty members:
Prof. dr Niels Schiller (Leiden University)
Dr Meinou de Vries (Max Planck Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen)
Dr A. Verhagen (Leiden University; Department of Linguistics) )
Prof dr Nick Chater (Department of Psychology, UCL, UK)
Prof. dr. Padraic Monaghan (University of Lancaster, UK, Department of Psychology)
Prof dr Morten Christiansen (Cornell University, USA)
2. Hypothesis testing behaviour
In this project (a follow up of Fenna Poletiek’s own PhD thesis) we take a close look at the implications of Popper’s falsificationism for psychological theories of hypothesis testing behaviour. The theoretical part led to the conclusion that falsificationism is undistinguishable from confirmationism. That is, no model of falsificationistic behaviour can be developed that isn’t also a confirmationistic model. Behaving as a good falsificationist is necessarily behaving as a good confirmationist. This is true under a number of reasonable assumptions. We found some experimental evidence (with Wason’s rule discovery task paradigm) that people indeed feel unable to think of a ‘falsifying’ way of testing their hypotheses, and that their attempts to falsify intuitively coincides with trying to get the most convincing confirmation.
3. (Illusory) Memory
Recently, an experimental project on illusory memory was started, motivated partly by the advice work done for the National Police Services Agency on accusations of sexual abuse. The accusations of sexual abuse analyzed for the Police, are sometimes based on memory reports from (occasionally very small) children or adults reporting recovered memories. We investigate the influences on these memories, using the experimental DRM paradigm in which participants study lists of words about a theme. When asked to retrieve the words they studied, participants name new words related to the theme but not studied. -
Students:
- Selected Papers
- Poletiek, F.H., & Van Schijndel, T.J.P. (2009) Stimulus Set Size and Grammar Coverage in Artificial Grammar Learning. Psychonomic Bulletin and Review 16(6), 1058-1064. [pdf]
- Van den Bos, E. J., & Poletiek, F.H. (in press). Structural Selection in Implicit Learning of Artificial Grammars. Psychological Research, DOI 10.1007/s00426-009-0227-1. [pdf]
- Poletiek, F.H. (2009). Popper’s Severity of Test as an Intuitive Probabilistic Model of Hypothesis Testing. The Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 32, 99-100. [pdf]
- Poletiek, F. H., & Wolters, G. (2009). What is learned about fragments in Artificial Grammar Learning. A transitional probabilities approach. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 62(5), 868-876 . [pdf]
- Van den Bos, E. J., & Poletiek, F.H. (2008). Effects of grammar complexity on Artificial Grammar Learning. Memory & Cognition, 36(6), 1122-1131. [pdf]
- Van den Bos E.J., & Poletiek, F.H.. (2008). Intentional artificial grammar learning: When does it work? 793-806. [pdf]
- Poletiek, F. H., & Chater, N. (2006). Grammar induction benefits from representative sampling. Proceedings of the 28th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society, pp.1968-1973. [pdf]
- Poletiek, F. H. & Stolker, C. J. J. (2004). Who decides the worth of an arm or leg? Assessing the monetary value of nonmonetary damage. In E. Kurz-Milcke & G. Gigerenzer (Eds.), Experts in science and society (pp. 201-213). New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum.
- Poletiek, F. H. (2002) Learning recursion in an artificial grammar. Acta Psychologica, 111, 323-335. [pdf]
- Poletiek, F.H. (2002). How psychiatrists and judges assess the dangerousness of mentally ill. An ‘expertise bias’. Behavioural Sciences and the Law, 20, 19-29. [pdf]
- Poletiek, F. H. (2001). Hypothesis-Testing Behaviour. Essays in Cognitive Psychology, Hove, UK: Psychology Press
- Poletiek, F. H. & Berndsen, M. (2000). Hypothesis testing as risk behaviour with regard to beliefs. Journal of Behavioural Decision Making, 13, 107-123. [pdf]
- Poletiek, F. H. (1996). Paradoxes of falsification. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 49A, 447-462. [pdf]
- Teaching & Supervision
- Bachelor courses and research (in Dutch only)
- Aandacht: theorie en praktijk
- Cognitieve Psychologie
- Bachelorproject e-gids info
- Honours Research Bachelor Project
HRBP 10 jaar! in het nieuws
Bachelorprojecten begeleid door F_Poletiek.doc
Master courses
Decision Making in Practice
Master thesis- Master thesis in e-study guide
- Applied and Research Master Thesis topics supervised by Fenna Poletiek.doc
- Social involvement
- Fenna Poletiek has been appointed as a member of the National Experts Group on Special Legal Cases of Sexual Abuse (LEBZ). This group is part of the National Police Services Agency (KLPD). The expert group (consisting of four cognitive psychologists among whom dr W. A. Wagenaar) have been appointed by the Minister of Justice to advice in cases of reports on sexual abuse, especially cases that are hard to judge on veracity. Examples are accusations based on experiences reported by very young children or accusations based on ‘recovered memories’. Read more on Fenna Poletiek and Bernet Elzinga in LEBZ (in Dutch only)
From 1994 to 1997 Fenna Poletiek worked at the National Research Institute for Mental Health (Trimbos Institute). She conducted an effect study of the new law on coercive hospitalization of mentally ill, ordered by the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Health.
2009
-
Poletiek, F.H. (2009)
Popper’s Severity of Test as an Intuitive Probabilistic Model of Hypothesis Testing. The Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 32, pp. 99-100.
(Article / Letter to editor) -
Poletiek, F.H. & Schijndel, T.J.P., van (2009)
Stimulus Set Size and Grammar Coverage in Artificial Grammar Learning. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 16 (6), pp. 1058-1064.
(Article / Letter to editor) -
Poletiek, F.H. & Wolters, G. (2009)
What is learned about fragments in artificial grammar learning? A transitional probabilities approach. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology : Human Experimental Psychology, 62, pp. 868-876.
(Article / Letter to editor)
2008
-
Wolters, G. & Poletiek, F.H. (2008)
Beslissen over aangiftes van seksueel misbruik bij kinderen. Psycholoog, 43, pp. 26-29.
(Article / Letter to editor) -
Bos, E.J., v.d. & Poletiek, F.H. (2008)
Effects of grammar complexity on artificial grammar learning. Memory and Cognition, 36 (5), pp. 1122-1131.
(Article / Letter to editor) -
Poletiek, F.H. (2008)
Het probleem van escalerende beschuldigingen. Bespreking van Crombag, H. en den Hartog. [Bespreking van: Kindermishandeling]. In: Maandblad voor Geestelijke Volksgezondheid, 02
(Book review) -
Bos, E.J., v.d. & Poletiek, F.H. (2008)
Intentional artificial grammar learning: When does it work? European Journal of Cognitive Psychology, 20, pp. 793-806.
(Article / Letter to editor) -
Poletiek, F.H. & Chater, N. (2008)
Recognition and categorization after exposure to equally and unequally distributed stimuli, in AGL. Venice, Italie
(Other)
2006
-
Poletiek, F.H. (2006)
De dwingende macht van een Goed Verhaal. Bespreking van Wagenaar, W.A. Vincent plast op de grond:nachtmerries in het Nederlands recht. Bert Bakker. [Bespreking van: De dwingende macht van een Goed Verhaal]. In: Psycholoog, 41
(Book review) -
Poletiek, F.H. & Chater, N. (2006)
Grammar induction benefits from representative sampling. Vancouver, Canada
(Other) -
Poletiek, F.H. & Chater, N. (2006)
Grammar induction benefits from representative stimulus sampling. Proceedings of the 28th annual conference of the Cognitive Science Society (pp. 1968-1973). Vancouver
(Article in monograph or in proceedings) -
Bos, E.J., v.d. & Poletiek, F.H. (2006)
Implicit artificial grammar learning in adults and children. Proceedings of the 28th annual conference of the Cognitive Science Society (p. 2619). Vancouver, Canada
(Article in monograph or in proceedings) -
Poletiek, F.H. (2006)
Representative sampling in an artificial grammar learning task. In: Juslin, P. & Fiedler, K (Eds.), Information sampling and adaptive cognition, pp. 440-455. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
(Part of book or chapter of book)
2005
-
Bos, E.J., v.d. & Poletiek, F.H. (2005)
Implicit learning of artifical grammars: Under what conditions? Toronto, Canada
(Other) -
Poletiek, F.H. & Rassin, E. (2005)
Het (on)bewuste. Psycholoog, 1, p. 3.
(Article / Letter to editor) -
Poletiek, F.H. & Bos, E.J., v.d. (2005)
Het onbewuste is een dader met een motief. Psycholoog, 1, pp. 11-17.
(Article / Letter to editor)
2004
-
Poletiek, F.H. (2004)
The proof of the pudding is in the eating: Translating Popper's philosophy into a model for testing behaviour. In: Manktelow, K.I. & Chung, M.C. (Eds.), Psychology of Reasoning: Historical and Philosophical Approaches, pp. 333-347. Hove: Psychology Press.
(Part of book or chapter of book) -
Poletiek, F.H. & Stolker, C.J.J.M. (2004)
Who decides the worth of an arm and a leg? Assessing the monetary value of nonmonetary damage. In: Kurz-Milcke, E. & Gigerenzer, G. (Eds.), Experts i Science and Society, pp. 201-213. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers.
(Part of book or chapter of book)
2002
-
Poletiek, F.H. (2002)
How Psychiatrists and Judges Assess the Dangerousness of Persons with Mental Illness: An 'Expertise Bias. Behavioral sciences & the law, 20, pp. 19-29.
(Article / Letter to editor) -
Poletiek, F.H. (2002)
Learning recursion in an artificial grammar. Acta Psychologica, 111, pp. 323-335.
(Article / Letter to editor)
2001
-
Poletiek, F.H. (2001)
T.R. - De Psycholoog. Psycholoog
(Contribution for newspaper or weekly magazine) -
Poletiek, F.H. (2001)
Hypothesis testing behaviour. (Essays in Cognitive Psychology). Hove: Psychology Press.
(Book (monograph)) -
Abma, R. & Breeuwsma, G. & Poletiek, F.H. (2001)
Toetsen in het onderwijs. Psycholoog, 12, pp. 638-639.
(Article / Letter to editor)
2000
-
Poletiek, F.H. (2000)
Hypothesis testing and its biases. DURHAM UK
(Other) -
Poletiek, F.H. (2000)
Strategieën van hypothesetoetsing. Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Heymans lezing 2000
(Conference lecture) -
Poletiek, F.H. (2000)
De beoordelaar dobbelt niet - denkt hij. Nederlands Tijdschrift voor de Psychologie, 55 (5), pp. 246-249.
(Article / Letter to editor) -
Poletiek, F.H. & Berndsen, M. (2000)
Hypothesis testing as risk behaviour with regard to beliefs. Journal of Behavioral Decision Making, 13, pp. 107-123.
(Article / Letter to editor) -
Poletiek, F.H. (2000)
T.R. - Psycholoog. Psycholoog
(Contribution for newspaper or weekly magazine)
1999
-
Poletiek, F.H. (1999)
Rationeel vs intuitief redeneren. Ameland, GITP
(Conference lecture) -
Poletiek, F.H. (1999)
Strategies of falsification. Egmond aan Zee, Congres Ned. Ver. van Psychonomie
(Conference lecture)
1998
-
Poletiek, F.H. (1998)
How much Smart money? The Assessment of immaterial damages and compensation in cases of legal liability. Berlin, Selected paper presented at the 'Schloessmann seminar' Max Planck Institute for the Advancement of Sciences.
(Conference lecture) -
Poletiek, F.H. (1998)
De geest van de jury. Psychologie en Maatschappij, 4, pp. 376-378.
(Article / Letter to editor) -
Stolker, C.J.J.M. & Poletiek, F.H. (1998)
Smartengeld - Wat zijn we eigenlijk aan het doen? Naar een juridische en psychologische evaluatie. Bewijs en letselschade, 9, pp. 71-86.
(Article / Letter to editor)
1997
-
Poletiek, F.H. (1997)
The assessment of dangerousness of mentally ill by medical and juridical experts. Leeds, UK, Biannual Meeting of the Society for Subjective Probability, Utility and Decision Making (SPUDM)
(Conference lecture) -
Poletiek, F.H. (1997)
De Wet 'Bijzondere Opnemingen in Psychiatrische Ziekenhuizen' aan de cijfers getoetst. Maandblad voor Geestelijke Volksgezondheid, 4, pp. 349-361.
(Article / Letter to editor) -
Poletiek, F.H. (1997)
Inside the juror; The psychology of juror decision-making. [Bespreking van: De geest van de Jury]. In: Psychologie en Maatschappij, 4
(Book review)



