Which term describes a mental framework that influences how we perceive and interpret information?

The term that describes a mental framework influencing how we perceive and interpret information is "schema." Schemas are cognitive structures that help individuals organize and interpret information based on past experiences and knowledge. They allow us to categorize new information, helping us to make sense of the world around us by providing a framework for understanding new experiences.

For instance, a child may have a schema for dogs that includes characteristics like having fur, four legs, and barking. When the child encounters a new animal that fits these characteristics, they can quickly interpret it as a dog based on that existing schema. This process of using schemas aids in efficient information processing but can also lead to biases if the schema is overly generalized or inaccurate.

The other terms, while related to cognition, do not specifically represent the cognitive structures that schemas do. Prototypes refer to the best or most typical example of a category, a mindset focuses on a person's attitude or state of mind toward their abilities and potential, and concepts are broader ideas or categories in our mind. Each of these plays a role in cognition but does not encapsulate the specific function of organizing and interpreting information like schemas do.