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The Role of Linguistic Labels in Categorization

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2011, Master of Arts, Ohio State University, Psychology.
The mechanism underlying the role of labels is hotly debated. Are labels used as features (similar to other objects’ properties) or as category markers representing category membership? According to one approach labels denote categories, and as such, they differ from object features, whereas according to the other approach, labels start out as features, but they may become category markers in the course of development. This issue was addressed in seven experiments with 4- to 5-year-olds and adults. In Experiments 1-3, we attempted to replicate Yamauchi & Markman’s findings (1998, 2000) with adults and to extend the paradigm to young children, while manipulating the role of labels. In Experiment 4, we manipulated the way learning was introduced. In Experiment 5-7, we compared effects of labels to those of highly salient visual features. Results indicated that adult made category-accordance responses to induction questions more often than to classification questions at the low level of feature match and an asymmetric performance was found between these two tasks; whereas children’s performance in Classification and Induction tasks were equivalent and they relied on similarity among features rather than labels, which are supposed to represent category membership, to make inductive inferences. In addition, children uniformly relied on the salient feature; whereas, many adults relied on the category label. These results suggest that early in development, labels are no more than features and are processed the same way as other features, but they may become category markers in the course of development.
Vladimir Sloutsky, PhD (Advisor)
Susan Johnson, PhD (Committee Member)
John Opfer, PhD (Committee Member)

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Deng, W. (2011). The Role of Linguistic Labels in Categorization [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1306871100

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Deng, Wei. The Role of Linguistic Labels in Categorization. 2011. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1306871100.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Deng, Wei. "The Role of Linguistic Labels in Categorization." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1306871100

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)