Exemplar theory's predicted typicality gradient can be tested and disconfirmed.
One of exemplar theory's central predictions concerns the shape of typicality gradients. The typicality gradient it predicts is a consequence of its exemplar-based comparisons and appears no matter how the theory is evaluated. However, this predicted typicality gradient does not fit the empirical typicality gradients obtained in an influential version of the dot-distortion category task, and this is true even when the exemplar model is made more flexible and mathematically powerful. Thus, exemplar theory is disconfirmed in this domain of categorization. In contrast, prototype theories are consistent with the empirically obtained typicality gradients.
Smith
J David
JD
Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, 14260, USA. psysmith@acsu.buffalo.edu
D001288:Attention; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D006801:Humans; D009949:Orientation; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D010469:Perceptual Distortion; D011340:Problem Solving; D011601:Psychophysics