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Making a silk purse out of two sow's ears: young children's use of comparison in category learning

J Exp Psychol Gen. 2002 Mar;131(1):5-15. doi: 10.1037//0096-3445.131.1.5.

Abstract

Comparison mechanisms have been implicated in the development of abstract, relational thought, including object categorization. D. Gentner and L. L. Namy (1999) found that comparing 2 perceptually similar category members yielded taxonomic categorization, whereas viewing a single member of the target category elicited shallower perceptual responding. The present experiments tested 2 predictions that follow from Gentner and Namy's (1999) model: (a) Comparison facilitates categorization only when the targets to be compared share relational commonalities, and (b) providing common labels for targets invites comparison, whereas providing conflicting labels deters it. Four-year-olds participated in a forced-choice task. They viewed 2 perceptually similar target objects and were asked to "find another one." Results suggest an important role for comparison in lexical and conceptual development.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Child Development
  • Child, Preschool
  • Classification*
  • Concept Formation*
  • Generalization, Psychological
  • Humans
  • Learning*
  • Models, Psychological
  • Pattern Recognition, Visual*