Of beasties and butterflies

Evidence for the stability and domain‐specificity of individual differences in categorization

Bibliographic Data

ID19279702
AuthorsBenjamin D Garber (0000-0002-7249-2230, Pennsylvania State University, corresponding author), Mark L Miller (0000-0003-4866-7915, Pennsylvania State University, corresponding author)
Year1986
Volume54
Issue4
Pages647-658
Publication date1986-12-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Personality (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-3506 • E-ISSN: 1467-6494
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1467-6494.1986.tb00417.x
OpenAlexW2082573481
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited7

Previous research has failed to demonstrate unambiguously the relative stability across time and consistency across tasks of individual differences in categorization, or categorization breadth The present study of categorizing behavior in college students assesses breadth at each of four points in time over a six‐week period Results are consistent with an interpretation of breadth as a highly stable individual difference variable, but one that is constrained by the nature of the stimulus sets employed High stability coefficients were observed for each of two redundant tasks In contrast, cross‐task consistency indices were generally low Personality correlates of breadth were similarly weak and inconsistent Several variables are suggested that may attenuate the generality of categorization breadth The existence of multiple styles of categorization is discussed

Categorization · Cognitive psychology · Consistency (knowledge bases) · Contrast (vision) · Developmental psychology · Generality · Machine learning · Personality · Stability (learning theory) · Artificial Intelligence · Computer Science · Cultural Differences and Values · Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics · Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies · Psychology · Social Psychology

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