Conceptual knwoledge

How are objects placed in categories?

Why doesn't definitions work for categories? What is used instead and what is its advantage?

Answer explanation

Because categories can have complexe and large amount of variations that does not fit into the definition. Hence categorization is the best done through family ressemblance which states that things in a category ressembles each other in a number of ways, which allows for some variations within the category:

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Why doesn't the definition approach work: Because categories can have complexe and large amount of variations that does not fit into the definition.

What is used instead: family ressemblance

Pros: allow for a more inclusive umbrella for concepts within a category, they do not need to fit a rigid definition and can simply share characteristics/ ressemble each other

What is the difference between prototype approach and exemplar approach to categorization?(compare and contrast)

Answer explanation

Compare: Both models look into family resemblance and how objects within a category can look different but share characteristics that places them under the same umbrella. Which was an answer to the definitional approach.

Contrast: While prototype looks at examples that are an average/compilation of what objects within a category looks like, exemplar is the different exemples of the concepts that exists within a category like an example for board game, Olympic game etc. which all describe games. Using real example for exemplar takes into consideration atypical cases within a category.

Name hierarchical models of categorization and state why they are considered hierarchical.

Answer explanation

Hierarchical organization:

Semantic networks: Bcs it consists of levels arranged so that more specific concepts are at the bottom, and more general concepts are at higher levels.

Look at the following image, why must we travel from "canary" to "bird" to find out that a canary can fly?

Answer explanation

Because to include can fly at the node for every bird is inefficient and would use up too much storage space.

State an advantage and disadvantage of cognitive economy. And how are the cons fixed?

Answer explanation

Cons: making the network more efficient makes it that we lose some information at the higher levels for some exceptions (ex. some birds can't fly). Instead a link is created at the lowest level to specify any exceptions.

Compare and contrast the semantic network approach with the connectionist approach.

Answer explanation

Cons of semantic network approach: Does not explain typicality effect, where reaction times for statements about an object are faster for more typical members of a category than for less typical members.

Problem with cognitive economy.

What are cons of semantic network approach?

Answer explanation

Doesn't explain typicality effect and there are problem with cognitive economy.

How does the connectionist approach to categorization explain the effect of damage on people's knowledge of concepts.

How are connection weights adjusted so as to activated only relevant properties?

Answer explanation

Through learning process.