Categorization Models in Psychology

Study Notes

Models of Knowledge Representation

Knowledge representation is the way in which information is organized and stored in the mind so that it can be retrieved and used when needed.
There are different models of knowledge representation that attempt to explain how this occurs.

Collins and Quillian's Network Model

Proposed by Collins and Quillian in 1969, this model organizes knowledge as a hierarchical tree diagram.
Nodes represent concepts, and links between nodes represent relationships between concepts.
Example: a node for mammals would be connected to nodes for specific types of mammals such as dogs, cats, and horses.
The model explains how people can make inferences about new information based on their existing knowledge.
Criticized for not accounting for the fact that people sometimes make category judgments faster for items that are closer together in the hierarchy.

Feature Comparison Model

This model suggests that people compare the features of different concepts directly when making category judgments.
Concepts are represented by their features, such as size, ferocity, and humanness.
Example: a lion would be located near the top of the psychological space, while a rat would be located near the bottom.
Advantage: can account for how people make judgments about objects that do not fit neatly into preexisting categories.
Criticized for not accounting for the fact that some features might be more important than others in different contexts.

Theory-Based View of Categorization

People use their theories to categorize concepts, which allow them to distinguish between essential and incidental features.
Theories enable individuals to make inferences that go beyond perceptual similarity.
Example: a person's theory about what makes a good doctor might include features like being knowledgeable, compassionate, and having good communication skills.
People learn about concepts and categories based on the tasks they need to do with those concepts and categories.
Learning is strategically flexible and not rigidly one-size-fits-all.

Description

This quiz is about the feature comparison model in psychology, which suggests that people compare features directly when making category judgments. It also discusses the advantages of this model in categorization.