Elsevier

Cognitive Psychology

Volume 8, Issue 1, January 1976, Pages 98-123
Cognitive Psychology

Interaction of stimulus dimensions in concept and choice processes

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Abstract

Four major types of interaction of stimulus dimensions based on perceptual research are described: integral, configural, separable, and asymmetric separable. Implications of these interactions for concept and choice processes are discussed. With regard to concept learning, it is argued that integral or configural interactions are desirable within the set of relevant and within the set of irrelevant dimensions used to generate stimuli, but that relevant dimensions should be separable from irrelevant dimensions. With regard to choice processes, integral or configural dimensions produce choices based on ordinary distance relations or equivalent parallel processing of dimensions. With separable dimensions, however, serial processing is at least possible; and such processing can lead to choices in which the subset of stimuli and the order of processing of dimensions affects the choice outcomes.

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    Preparation of this paper was supported by Grant MH 14229 from the National Institute of Mental Health to Yale University.

    This paper was improved by discussion with Michael Kubovy.

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