The Influence Of Prior Konwledge On Category Learning

Previous studies of the effects of prior knowledge on category learning showed that consistent prior knowledge within category facilitated category learning, however those studies varied on whether inconsistent prior knowledge within category slowed category learning. In addition, many arguments differed in how consistent prior knowledge facilitated category learning. Some arguments that thought the theme features and the rote features are in competition were generalized by competitive theory. Others that thought the theme features and the rote features are not in competition were generalized by facilitative theory.In three experiments, the author examined the use of prior knowledge in category learning and how consistent prior knowledge influenced category learning.The results showed that consistent prior knowledge within category aided category learning, even when it was minimal. But inconsistent prior knowledge within category had no significant disadvantage on category learning when the similarity based on rote features within category was high, while it had a rather significant disadvantage on category learning when the similaritybased on rote features within category was low.The results also showed that the association between the theme features and the rote features varied from competition to facilitation with the importance of the rote features in category learning increasing. When the rote features was of rather low importance, the theme features and the rote features were in competition. But when the rote features played an important role in category learning, the theme features and the rote features were in facilitation.In addition, the results also showed that the association between the theme features and the rote features varied from competition to facilitation with the displaying time of exemplars increasing. When the displaying time was restricted, the theme features and the rote features were in competition. When the subject could manipulate the displaying time by himself, the theme features and the rote features were in facilitation.