Exemplar Theory
Exemplar Theory
Exemplar Theory refers to an approach of categorization in psychology using which individuals can make decisions by comparing new examples with the examples which is already present in their mind. Instead of relying on a single prototype, categories have many or known exemplars that fit into them. When you come across something new, you can compare it with all members of a category. The greater the number of exemplars the new item will match, the better will it adapt against all members of a category. Single exemplar may be selected as prototype. It may be real exemplar, or a combination of features drawn from a number of exemplars. Membership in a classification is decided upon through similarity in prototypes. A category explained by a prototype will have a number of items which are similar to prototypes and will surely be members of the classification, while others will be less similar, but still have enough likeness to be classified as a member.
Research
A research comparing rule based as well as exemplar based theories confirmed that people use rules in cases where new items are confusing. They use exemplars when these items are distinct. During the process of learning, proper features to distinguish items are learned over a time period. For instance, a radiologist has to identify a suspicious spot on X-ray either as a variation of natural tissue or as tumor. With the help of exemplar based theory, a decision may be reached by equating the present X-rays to the exemplars remembered by the radiologist. In case, it appears more similar to tumors rather than normal tissue, then he has to categorize the suspicious spot as tumors. In contrast, rule based theories recommend that the radiologist observe whether specific categories of X ray meet the same classification as tumors. The frequency using which the item has been come across is a major factor which impacts its typicality.
Advantage of Exemplary Theory
This theory helps to describe the
Exemplar Theory refers to an approach of categorization in psychology using which individuals can make decisions by comparing new examples with the examples which is already present in their mind. Instead of relying on a single prototype, categories have many or known exemplars that fit into them. When you come across something new, you can compare it with all members of a category. The greater the number of exemplars the new item will match, the better will it adapt against all members of a category. Single exemplar may be selected as prototype. It may be real exemplar, or a combination of features drawn from a number of exemplars. Membership in a classification is decided upon through similarity in prototypes. A category explained by a prototype will have a number of items which are similar to prototypes and will surely be members of the classification, while others will be less similar, but still have enough likeness to be classified as a member.
Research
A research comparing rule based as well as exemplar based theories confirmed that people use rules in cases where new items are confusing. They use exemplars when these items are distinct. During the process of learning, proper features to distinguish items are learned over a time period. For instance, a radiologist has to identify a suspicious spot on X-ray either as a variation of natural tissue or as tumor. With the help of exemplar based theory, a decision may be reached by equating the present X-rays to the exemplars remembered by the radiologist. In case, it appears more similar to tumors rather than normal tissue, then he has to categorize the suspicious spot as tumors. In contrast, rule based theories recommend that the radiologist observe whether specific categories of X ray meet the same classification as tumors. The frequency using which the item has been come across is a major factor which impacts its typicality.
Advantage of Exemplary Theory
This theory helps to describe the