Abstract
Research has shown that category learning is affected by (a) attention, which selects which aspects of stimuli are available for further processing, and (b) the existing semantic knowledge that learners bring to the task. However, little is known about how knowledge affects what is attended. Using eyetracking, we found that (a) knowledge indeed changes what features are attended, with knowledge-relevant features being fixated more often than irrelevant ones, (b) this effect was not due to an initial attentional bias toward relevant dimensions but rather emerged gradually as a result of observing category members, and (c) this effect grew even after a learning criterion was reached, that is, despite the absence of negative feedback. We argue that models of knowledge-based learning will remain incomplete until they specify mechanisms that dynamically select prior knowledge in response to observed category members and which then directs attention to knowledge-relevant dimensions and away from irrelevant ones.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 649-665 |
| Number of pages | 17 |
| Journal | Memory & Cognition |
| Volume | 39 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2011 |
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Keywords
- Categorization
- Category learning
- Eyetracking
- Selective attention
- Thematic knowledge
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
- Medicine(all)
- Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
- Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology
Cite this
How prior knowledge affects selective attention during category learning : An eyetracking study. / Kim, Shinwoo; Rehder, Bob.
In: Memory & Cognition, Vol. 39, No. 4, 2011, p. 649-665.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - How prior knowledge affects selective attention during category learning
T2 - An eyetracking study
AU - Kim, Shinwoo
AU - Rehder, Bob
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - Research has shown that category learning is affected by (a) attention, which selects which aspects of stimuli are available for further processing, and (b) the existing semantic knowledge that learners bring to the task. However, little is known about how knowledge affects what is attended. Using eyetracking, we found that (a) knowledge indeed changes what features are attended, with knowledge-relevant features being fixated more often than irrelevant ones, (b) this effect was not due to an initial attentional bias toward relevant dimensions but rather emerged gradually as a result of observing category members, and (c) this effect grew even after a learning criterion was reached, that is, despite the absence of negative feedback. We argue that models of knowledge-based learning will remain incomplete until they specify mechanisms that dynamically select prior knowledge in response to observed category members and which then directs attention to knowledge-relevant dimensions and away from irrelevant ones.
AB - Research has shown that category learning is affected by (a) attention, which selects which aspects of stimuli are available for further processing, and (b) the existing semantic knowledge that learners bring to the task. However, little is known about how knowledge affects what is attended. Using eyetracking, we found that (a) knowledge indeed changes what features are attended, with knowledge-relevant features being fixated more often than irrelevant ones, (b) this effect was not due to an initial attentional bias toward relevant dimensions but rather emerged gradually as a result of observing category members, and (c) this effect grew even after a learning criterion was reached, that is, despite the absence of negative feedback. We argue that models of knowledge-based learning will remain incomplete until they specify mechanisms that dynamically select prior knowledge in response to observed category members and which then directs attention to knowledge-relevant dimensions and away from irrelevant ones.
KW - Categorization
KW - Category learning
KW - Eyetracking
KW - Selective attention
KW - Thematic knowledge
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=80053295241&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=80053295241&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3758/s13421-010-0050-3
DO - 10.3758/s13421-010-0050-3
M3 - Article
VL - 39
SP - 649
EP - 665
JO - Memory and Cognition
JF - Memory and Cognition
SN - 0090-502X
IS - 4
ER -