Ideals, central tendency, and frequency of instantiation as determinants of graded structure in categories.

Abstract

Three possible determinants of graded structure (typicality) were observed in common taxonomic categories and goal-derived categories: (1) an exemplar's similarity to ideals associated with goals its category serves; (2) an exemplar's similarity to the central tendency of its category (family resemblance); and (3) an exemplar's frequency of instantiation (people's subjective estimates of how often it is encountered as a category member). Experiment 1 found that central tendency did not predict graded structure in goal-derived categories, although it did predict graded structure in common taxonomic categories. Ideals and frequency of instantiation predicted graded structure in both category types to sizeable and equal extents. A fourth possible determinant--familiarity--did not predict typicality in either common taxonomic or goal-derived categories. Experiment 2 demonstrated that both central tendency and ideals causally determine graded structure, and work showing that frequency causally determines graded structure is discussed. Experiment 2 also demonstrated that the determinants of a particular category's graded structure can change with context. Whereas ideals may determine a category's graded structure in one context, central tendency may determine a different graded structure in another. It is proposed that graded structures do not reflect invariant structures associated with categories but instead reflect people's dynamic ability to construct concepts.

Cites (4)

1. Basic objects in natural categories
   Rosch, Eleanor, Mervis, Carolyn B, Gray, Wayne D, Johnson, David M, Boyes-Braem, Penny · 1976 · Cognitive Psychology
2. Automatic and effortful processes in memory.
   Hasher, Lynn, Zacks, Rose T. · 1979 · Journal of Experimental Psychology: General
3. Ad hoc categories
   Barsalou, Lawrence W. · 1983 · Memory & Cognition
4. Repetition and Memory
   Hintzman, Douglas L. · 1976 · Psychology of Learning and Motivation

Show all 4 references

Cited by (32)

1. Perceptual symbol systems
   Barsalou, Lawrence W. · 1999 · Behavioral and Brain Sciences
2. Dimensions of Consumer Expertise
   Alba, Joseph W., Hutchinson, J. Wesley · 1987 · Journal of Consumer Research
3. Representativeness revisited: Attribute substitution in intuitive judgment.
   Kahneman, Daniel, Frederick, Shane · 2002 · Heuristics and Biases
4. The Affect Heuristic
   Slovic, Paul, Finucane, Melissa, Peters, Ellen, MacGregor, Donald G. · 2002 · Heuristics and Biases
5. “Clinical versus Actuarial Judgment.”
   Dawes, Robyn M., Faust, David, Meehl, Paul E. · 1989 · Science

See all 1,189