title: The role of comparison in preschoolers' novel object categorization.
abstract: We examined the role of the comparison process and shared names on preschoolers' categorization of novel objects. In our studies, 4-year-olds were presented with novel object sets consisting of either one or two standards and two test objects: a shape match and a texture match. When children were presented with one standard, they extended the category based on shape regardless of whether the objects were named. When children were presented with two standards that shared the same texture and the objects were named with the same noun, they extended the category based on texture. The opportunity to compare two standards, in the absence of shared names, led to an attenuation of the effect of shape. These findings demonstrate that comparison plays a critical role in the categorization of novel objects and that shared names enhance this process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. susan.graham@ucalgary.ca
authors.forename: Susan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: Laura L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Namy
authors.forename: Dedre
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gentner
authors.forename: Kristinn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Meagher
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003210:Concept Formation / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005556:Form Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D005793:Generalization, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007804:Language Development; D008297:Male; D011578:Psycholinguistics / Q000379:methods; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000502:physiology*