Mechanisms of Spatial Learning: Teaching Children Geometric Categories
| Autor: | Bryan J. Matlen, Susan C. Levine, Raedy M. Ping, Dedre Gentner, Micah B. Goldwater, Linsey A. Smith |
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| Rok vydání: | 2014 |
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| Zdroj: | Spatial Cognition IX ISBN: 9783319112145 Spatial Cognition |
| Popis: | Children’s representations of geometric categories like triangles are often centered on a prototypical exemplar (e.g., an equilateral triangle). New cases are judged based on perceptual similarity to the prototype; such a strategy leads to systematic errors in categorization. Creating correct geometric categories requires children to move beyond a reliance on perceptual similarity and learn category-defining rules (e.g., a triangle is an enclosed, three-sided shape). In this research, we test whether a brief training experience using comparison could help three- and four-year-old children learn the category of triangle. Further, we ask whether different types of comparisons (within-category or between-category) support learning in distinct ways. The data indicate that both types of comparison fostered category learning, but that within-category comparisons promoted generalization to new exemplars whereas between-category comparisons reduced overgeneralization to non-exemplars. Furthermore, these effects were moderated by the perceptual similarity of the compared pairs. The results indicate that comparison can foster spatial category learning. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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