New Paper

The Effects of Linear Order in Category Learning: Some
Replications of Ramscar et al. (2010) and Their
Implications for Replicating Training Studies

With: Eva Viviani and Elizabeth Wonnacott

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/cogs.13445

Abstract

Ramscar, Yarlett, Dye, Denny, and Thorpe (2010) showed how, consistent with the predictions of
error-driven learning models, the order in which stimuli are presented in training can affect category
learning. Specifically, learners exposed to artificial language input where objects preceded their labels
learned the discriminating features of categories better than learners exposed to input where labels preceded objects. We sought to replicate this finding in two online experiments employing the same tests
used originally: A four pictures test (match a label to one of four pictures) and a four labels test (match
a picture to one of four labels). In our study, only findings from the four pictures test were consistent
with the original result. Additionally, the effect sizes observed were smaller, and participants overgeneralized high-frequency category labels more than in the original study. We suggest that although
Ramscar, Yarlett, Dye, Denny, and Thorpe (2010) feature-label order predictions were derived from
error-driven learning, they failed to consider that this mechanism also predicts that performance in
any training paradigm must inevitably be influenced by participant prior experience. We consider our
findings in light of these factors, and discuss implications for the generalizability and replication of
training studies.