The current study tested whether humans consciously group words into clusters in the same way as the results of an fMRI study suggest. Doing this, it is referred to the study by Huth, de Heer, Griffiths, Theunissen, and Gallant in which increased brain activity in certain areas was detected while people listened to certain words. Based on these brain areas, the words could be categorized. For the current study 50 of these words were selected and used to perform an open card sorting and a questionnaire.
The sample comprised 17 participants. Using a chi-squared test, the relationship between the categorization in the card sorting and in the study was analysed, as was the relationship between the two specific categories violence and time using a parametric test for independent samples. With regard to the analysis of the questionnaire, t-tests were used to compare categories with each other and with filler words. The results of the card sorting revealed a significant relationship between clusters in the card sorting and the categories of the study.
In addition, the categories violence and time were found to be significantly different, while increased proximity values occurred within the categories. The questionnaire showed that concepts were more closely related to the categories they originate, compared to filler items, and that concepts within the category time were rated as better fitting than concepts within the category violence. The results of the current study suggest that humans indeed consciously categorise concepts in a similar way as the brain activation implies. Words within those categories are related to each other and clearly distinguishable from words in other categories.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. INTRODUCTION.
- 1.1 Concepts and conceptual learning
- 1.2 Semantic cognition and the study by Huth et al. (2016)..
- 1.3 This study.
- 2. METHOD
- 2.1 Participants........
- 2.2 Materials.........
- 2.3 Design and procedure.
- 2.4 Data analysis..\li>
- 3. RESULTS..
- 3.1 Analysis of the card sorting
- 3.2 Comparison of the categories violence and time in the card sorting.
- 3.3 Analysis of the questionnaire.
- 4. DISCUSSION..
- 4.1 Limitations and suggestions for future research..
- 5. CONCLUSION
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This study aims to determine whether humans consciously group words into clusters in the same way as an fMRI study suggests. It compares results from a card sorting task with categories revealed through brain activity in a study by Huth et al. (2016a).
- Comparison of human concept categorization with brain activation patterns.
- Exploration of the relationship between conceptual learning and semantic cognition.
- Analysis of the influence of exemplar-based and rule-based categorization on conceptual clustering.
- Investigation of the role of brain regions in representing semantic information.
- Assessment of the connection between semantic knowledge and language abilities.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction provides an overview of concepts and conceptual learning, highlighting two main theories: exemplar-based and rule-based categorization. It also discusses the significance of semantic cognition and its link to language and nonverbal behavior, presenting the hub-and-spoke model of semantic representation.
The "Method" section describes the participants, materials, design and procedure of the study, including the card sorting task and questionnaire used to assess concept categorization. It also outlines the data analysis methods used.
The "Results" section presents findings from the card sorting task, demonstrating a significant relationship between clusters in the card sorting and categories identified in the brain study. It further analyzes the differences between the categories "violence" and "time" and explores the relationship between concepts and categories through the questionnaire.
The "Discussion" chapter discusses the implications of the results, focusing on the similarities between conscious human categorization and brain activation patterns. It also highlights the limitations of the study and provides suggestions for future research.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The study focuses on the areas of concepts, conceptual learning, categorization, clustering, card sorting, semantic cognition, and fMRI research.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2018, The use of card sorting in a brain study. A comparison with the concept categories of the study by Huth, de Heer, Griffiths, Theunissen, and Gallant, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/492655
