Comparisons between exemplar similarity and mixed prototype models using a linearly separable category structure.
Nosofsky and Zaki (2002) found that an exemplar similarity model provided better accounts of individual subject classification and generalization performance than did a mixed prototype model proposed by Smith and Minda (1998; Minda & Smith, 2001). However, these previous tests used a nonlinearly separable category structure. In the present work, the authors extend the previous findings by demonstrating a superiority for the exemplar generalization model over the mixed prototype model in a case involving a linearly separable structure. Because this structure has numerous features that Minda and Smith argued should be conducive to prototype-based processing, the results pose a significant challenge to the mixed prototype view.
Stanton
Roger D
RD
Department of Psychology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA. rostanto@indiana.edu
Nosofsky
Robert M
RM
Zaki
Safa R
SR
D005793:Generalization, Psychological; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008960:Models, Psychological