Analogical transfer in perceptual categorization

TitleAnalogical transfer in perceptual categorization
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2012
AuthorsCasale, M. B., Roeder J. L., & F Ashby G.
JournalMemory & Cognition
Volume40
Issue3
Pagination434-449
Date Published2012 Apr
ISSN1532-5946
KeywordsAssociation 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.

DOI10.3758/s13421-011-0154-4
Alternate JournalMem Cognit
PubMed ID22183985