Within-category discontinuity interacts with verbal rule complexity in perceptual category learning.
A test of the predicted interaction between within-category discontinuity and verbal rule complexity on information-integration and rule-based category learning was conducted. Within-category discontinuity adversely affected information-integration category learning but not rule-based category learning. Model-based analyses suggested that some information-integration participants improved performance by recruiting more "units" in the discontinuous condition. Verbal rule complexity adversely affected rule-based category learning but not information-integration category learning. Model-based analyses suggested that the rule based effect was on both decision criterion learning and variability in decision criterion placement. These results suggest that within-category discontinuity and decision rule complexity differentially impact information-integration and rule-based category learning and provide information regarding the detailed processing characteristics of these two proposed category learning systems.
Maddox
W Todd
WT
Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA. maddox@psy.utexas.edu
Filoteo
J Vincent
JV
Lauritzen
J Scott
JS
D003210:Concept Formation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008037:Linguistics / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D014825:Vocabulary