The Bias–Variance Tradeoff in Cognitive Science

Abstract

The bias–variance tradeoff is a theoretical concept that suggests machine learning algorithms are susceptible to two kinds of error, with some algorithms tending to suffer from one more than the other. In this letter, we claim that the bias–variance tradeoff is a general concept that can be applied to human cognition as well, and we discuss implications for research in cognitive science. In particular, we show how various strands of research in cognitive science can be interpreted in light of the bias–variance tradeoff, giving insight into individual differences in learning, the nature of cognitive processes, and debates in cognitive science research.