Categories and Concepts

Question 1

Categorization

Answer 1

must efficiently process incoming data stream through categorization;
without the cognitive ability to categorize, every sensory experience would be completely unique

Question 2

Why categorize

Answer 2

classification, understanding, predicting, communication

Question 3

Superordinate level

Answer 3

level under which basic levels belong to; higher chance for accuracy, low predictive power

Question 4

Basic level

Answer 4

most part of everyday language, make easy and quick judgements; most abstract level at which objects have similar shape

Question 5

Subordinate level

Answer 5

lower chance for accuracy, high predictive power

Question 6

Illusion of the expert

Answer 6

the feeling that a task must be simple for everyone because it is simple for oneself; occurs with simple categories

Question 7

Prototype theory

Answer 7

we categorize objects by comparing them to an average representation of all personal experiences; best explains simple categorization

Question 8

Exemplar theory

Answer 8

we categorize objects by comparing them to every previously stored experience (exemplar) in a given category;
once you find the exemplar that is sufficiently similar to the current object, you identify it as being a member of the same category

Question 9

Children and categories

Answer 9

children have an understanding of the innate properties of a category

Question 10

Animal categorization

Answer 10

using instrumental conditioning, baboons can be taught to classify objects with high accuracy; can use abstract rules

Question 11

Conceptual problem solving

Answer 11

strategy-writing;

two-column solutions

Question 12

Traditional problem solving

Answer 12

emphasis on equations;

standard one-column solutions

Question 13

Schema

Answer 13

large, complex unit of knowledge that encodes properties typical of instances of general categories and omit properties which are not typical of the categories

Question 14

Don’t know much about biology - article

Answer 14

subjects were more hesitant in classifying plants to overrule naive taxonomy, made more errors than they did classifying animals; lifetime of advanced scientific training does not trump tendency to view plants as artifacts

Question 15

Wired for categorization - article

Answer 15

thinking of living things activates an area that deals with animate objects, while thinking of nonliving things activates one that deals with inanimate objects; independent of visual abilities

Question 16

Classification

Answer 16

allows you to treat objects that appear differently as belonging together

Question 17

Understanding

Answer 17

identifies the intentions of a situation

Question 18

Predicting

Answer 18

uses past experiences to know what to expect

Question 19

Communication

Answer 19

uses specific words to describe ideas efficiently