Categorization

and

Conceptual Development

Overview:

This course is intended as a graduate level introduction to issues in the mental representation of concepts and the psychological processes underlying categorization. Special attention will be paid to theories and evidence regarding the development of these abilities. The two-thirds of the class will be devoted to discussing three influential theories of concepts (Classical, Prototype/Similarity-based, and Theory-based accounts). In each case we will explore the developmental implications; What kind of concepts do young children have and how do concepts change as children grow older? The remainder of the class will be given over to various special topics. These topics will be determined primarily by the interests and backgrounds of students in the class. My inclination will be to focus on issues of categorization and concepts as they appear in the related disciplines of cognitive science

See http://www.soemadison.wisc.edu/edpsych/711_1kal.htm for a sample syllabus.

Sample Topics

Anthropology
* cross-cultural perspectives
* folk-biological taxonomy
Philosophy
* naturalized epistemology
* constraints on induction
Psycholinguistics
* acquisition of word meanings
* language and thought
Neuroscience
* localization and category-specific deficits
Computer Science
* computational models of similarity and concept learning
Other Possible Topics
* Categorization in infancy
* Scientific concepts and instruction
* Social concepts and stereotyping