Research article summary (published 30 Aug 2009):

Classifying partial exemplars: seeing less and learning more.

Full Abstract

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. (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved.

Author information

Author/s: Taylor, Eric G (EG); Ross, Brian H (BH);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Illinois, 603 East Daniel Street, Champaign, IL 61820, USA. etaylor4(-atsign-)uiuc.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Journal of experimental psychology. Learning, memory, and cognition (J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Sep; vol 35 (issue 5) : pp 1374-80

Dates: Created 2009/08/18; Completed 2009/10/08;

PMID: 19686031, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/8/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Attention - physiology Classification Cognition Concept Formation - physiology

Discrimination Learning - physiology Humans Pattern Recognition, Visual - physiology Photic Stimulation

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