Title | Analogical transfer in perceptual categorization |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2012 |
Authors | Casale, M. B., Roeder J. L., & F Ashby G. |
Journal | Memory & Cognition |
Volume | 40 |
Issue | 3 |
Pagination | 434-449 |
Date Published | 2012 Apr |
ISSN | 1532-5946 |
Keywords | Association Learning, Contrast Sensitivity, Discrimination Learning, Humans, Orientation, Pattern Recognition, Visual, Probability Learning, Problem Solving, Size Perception, Transfer (Psychology) |
Abstract | Analogical transfer is the ability to transfer knowledge despite significant changes in the surface features of a problem. In categorization, analogical transfer occurs if a classification strategy learned with one set of stimuli can be transferred to a set of novel, perceptually distinct stimuli. Three experiments investigated analogical transfer in rule-based and information-integration categorization tasks. In rule-based tasks, the optimal strategy is easy to describe verbally, whereas in information-integration tasks, accuracy is maximized only if information from two or more stimulus dimensions is integrated in a way that is difficult or impossible to describe verbally. In all three experiments, analogical transfer was nearly perfect in the rule-based conditions, but no evidence for analogical transfer was found in the information-integration conditions. These results were predicted a priori by the COVIS theory of categorization. |
DOI | 10.3758/s13421-011-0154-4 |
Alternate Journal | Mem Cognit |
PubMed ID | 22183985 |