Imagery instructions yield more isolated concepts than discriminating-feature instructions, as shown by greater influence of nondiagnostic features on categorization accuracy¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · causal r1 · q3
Currency · newest study 1996 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i? The influence of nondiagnostic features on categorization accuracy was greater for subjects given image instructions than for those given discriminate instructions. → Goldstone 1996 q3 i? Nondiagnostic features still had a significant influence on accuracy for both instruction groups. → Goldstone 1996

Evidence¶

Goldstone 1996¶

Goldstone, R. L. (1996). Isolated and interrelated concepts. Memory & Cognition, 24 (5), 608-628. https://doi.org/10.3758/bf03201087

q3 · i? · causal · r1

Categorization experiment: 28 undergraduates (image vs. discriminate instruction groups) categorized 600 distortions of two prototypes on Macintosh SE computers. A three-way interaction of diagnosticity, features changed, and instructions was significant; the description reported "nondiagnostic features were more important" under image instructions.

"The result ofprincipal interest was the significant three­way interaction between segment diagnosticity, number of features changed, and instruction type [F(4,104) = 3.59, MSe = 0.21, p < .05]."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Subjects given image instructions include more nondiagnostic features in their drawings of concepts than subjects given discriminate instructions — related
• Concepts become more interrelated with practice under discriminate instructions, and more isolated with practice under image instructions — related
• Whether a prototype or caricature is categorized more easily is predicted to depend on concept interrelatedness: prototype advantage for isolated, caricature advantage for interrelated concepts — related
• Frequent alternation of categories yields more interrelated concepts than infrequent alternation, as indicated by a diagnosticity-by-alternation interaction — related
• Categorization accuracy was significantly higher for infrequently alternated categories than for frequently alternated categories — related