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The Impact of Working Memory Capacity on Category Learning

Carlson, Krista D.

Abstract Details

2009, Master of Arts, Miami University, Psychology.
The current study investigated the influence of working memory (WM) capacity on ability to learn rule-based (RB) and information-integration (II) categories. Using stimuli varying on 4 binary dimensions, Experiment 1 replicated the results of Decaro, Thomas and Beilock (2009): with an 8-trial learning criterion, high WM participants outperformed low WMs on RB tasks, but low WMs outperformed high WMs on II tasks. With a stricter learning criterion of 16 trials, however, the advantage of low WMs disappeared. II response modeling showed that high WMs used the optimal II strategy more over time, while low WMs persisted in using unidimensional rules. Experiment 2 examined WM’s effect on category learning using stimuli with continuous dimensions, making category membership harder to distinguish. Results showed II learners took fewer blocks to reach criterion (BTC) as their visual WM increased, while complex rule learners took less BTC as their verbal WM increased.
Robin Thomas, PhD (Advisor)
Joseph Johnson, PhD (Committee Member)
Peter Wessels, PhD (Committee Member)
44 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Carlson, K. D. (2009). The Impact of Working Memory Capacity on Category Learning [Master's thesis, Miami University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1260204364

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Carlson, Krista. The Impact of Working Memory Capacity on Category Learning. 2009. Miami University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1260204364.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Carlson, Krista. "The Impact of Working Memory Capacity on Category Learning." Master's thesis, Miami University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1260204364

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)