Categorization as causal reasoning⋆

Running Head: Categorization as Causal Reasoning Categorization as Causal Reasoning

A theory of categorization is presented in which knowledge of causal relationships between category features is represented in terms of asymmetric and probabilistic causal mechanisms. According to causal-model theory, objects are classified as category members to the extent they are likely to have been generated or produced by those mechanisms. Two experiments confirmed that participants rated ...

Categorization as causal reasoning

A theory of categorization is presented in which knowledge of causal relationships between category features is represented in terms of asymmetric and probabilistic causal mechanisms. According to causal-model theory, objects are classified as category members to the extent they are likely to have been generated or produced by those mechanisms. The empirical results confirmed that participants ...

Running Head: Property Generalization as Causal Reasoning Property Generalization as Causal Reasoning

Causal Reasoning

It is based around a process of elimination, with many scientific processes [1] using this method as a valuable tool for evaluating potential hypotheses [2]. Medical practitioners, as an example, will try to establish and deduce what is causing a certain symptom. By isolating and treating this cause, through eliminating others, the symptom can be alleviated. It is based around a process of elim...

The Development of Causal Categorization

Two experiments examined the impact of causal relations between features on categorization in 5- to 6-year-old children and adults. Participants learned artificial categories containing instances with causally related features and noncausal features. They then selected the most likely category member from a series of novel test pairs. Classification patterns and logistic regression were used to...