Derivational theory of complexity refers to the theory which states that the psychological complexity of a sentence is directly proportional to the length of its derivation.
In the psychology context, the derivational theory of complexity refers to a theoretical perspective that suggests that the complexity of a psychological process is derived from the underlying cognitive processes that make it up. This theory suggests that the complexity of a psychological process can be measured by looking at the number and types of cognitive processes that are involved in that process.
Examples of how the derivational theory of complexity can be applied in psychology include:
- Measuring the complexity of problem-solving by looking at the number and types of cognitive processes involved in solving the problem
- Measuring the complexity of language processing by looking at the number and types of cognitive processes involved in understanding and producing language
- Measuring the complexity of memory processes by looking at the number and types of cognitive processes involved in encoding, storage, and retrieval of information
- Measuring the complexity of decision making by looking at the number and types of cognitive processes involved in evaluating options and making a choice.
This theory suggests that the more cognitive processes are involved in a psychological process, the more complex that process is. Therefore, the complexity of a psychological process can be measured by identifying and counting the number of cognitive processes that are involved in that process. This can provide valuable insights into how people think and process information.