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ERIC Number: EJ860040
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Sep
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
Reference Count: 26
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0278-7393
Classifying Partial Exemplars: Seeing Less and Learning More
Taylor, Eric G.; Ross, Brian H.
Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, v35 n5 p1374-1380 Sep 2009
Categories underlie a variety of functions beyond just classification, including inference and explanation. To classify, people need to distinguish between categories, but other functions rely on within-category information (things true of a particular category, independent of others). Despite the need for both types of knowledge, recent work shows that classification does not lead to learning an important type of within-category information, prototypical nondiagnostic information. However, most classification studies are conducted under narrow conditions that do not cover many basic ways that people learn categories. In 2 experiments, the authors compared standard classification learning with a slightly different task where items appeared with occluded features (as many objects appear); they hypothesized that this change might lead to broader attention and learning of within-category, prototypical nondiagnostic information. The results support this prediction, offering evidence that classification can lead to learning within-category information. They discuss the possibility that other classification results may depend on specifics of the standard paradigm. (Contains 3 tables, 2 figures, and 5 footnotes.)
American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org/publications
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers: Illinois