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The Influence of Stimulus Structure and Relational Information on Category Construction and Deconstruction

Doan, Charles A.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1414754954

Abstract Details

2014, Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, Experimental Psychology (Arts and Sciences).
Prior research aiming to predict general strategies for sorting objects into categories has relied on determining when and if subjects will sort unidimensionally (Handel & Imai, 1972; Imai & Garner, 1965) or sort based on a family resemblance principal (Medin, Wattenmaker, & Hampson, 1987; Rosch & Mervis, 1975; Wattenmaker, 1992). Experimental results are mixed, however, and recent investigations suggest the type of strategy employed by subjects depends on the particular demands of the task (Milton & Wills, 2004; Regehr & Brooks, 1995). Although informative, these investigations are qualitative in nature and lack the type of quantitative rigor found in the area of human categorization (Medin & Schaffer, 1978; Nosofsky, 1984; Vigo, 2009, 2013b). To address this quantitative deficit, we implemented representational information theory (RIT; Vigo, 2011a, 2013a) and its’ associated formal model to predict and explain how humans choose which objects to either add to or to remove from preexisting category structures. RIT provides an explanation as to when the aforementioned qualitative sorting strategies are most likely to be utilized by subjects. Additionally, we compared predictions from this model to those made by a leading prototype measure (MPMP-2, Estes, 1986; Nosofsky & Zaki, 2002; Vigo & Basawaraj, 2013).
Ronaldo Vigo, Dr. (Advisor)
Robert Briscoe, Dr. (Committee Member)
Gary Schumacher, Dr. (Committee Member)
64 p.
Cognitive Psychology; Experimental Psychology; Information Science; Quantitative Psychology
category; representational information; prototype; stimulus structure; category construction; category deconstruction

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Doan, C. A. (2014). The Influence of Stimulus Structure and Relational Information on Category Construction and Deconstruction [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1414754954

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Doan, Charles. The Influence of Stimulus Structure and Relational Information on Category Construction and Deconstruction. 2014. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1414754954.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Doan, Charles. "The Influence of Stimulus Structure and Relational Information on Category Construction and Deconstruction." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1414754954

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1414754954
354
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This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.