From simple to complex categories: how structure and label information guides the acquisition of category knowledge
Date
2018
Authors
Vong, Wai Keen
Editors
Advisors
Ma-Wyatt, Anna
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Theses
Citation
Statement of Responsibility
Conference Name
Abstract
Categorization is a fundamental ability of human cognition, translating complex streams of information
from the all of different senses into simpler, discrete categories. How do people acquire all of
this category knowledge, particularly the kinds of rich, structured categories we interact with every
day in the real-world? In this thesis, I explore how information from category structure and category
labels influence how people learn categories, particular for the kinds of computational problems
that are relevant to real-world category learning. The three learning problems this thesis covers are:
semi-supervised learning, structure learning and category learning with many features. Each of these
three learning problems presents a different kinds of learning challenge, and through a combination
of behavioural experiments and computational modeling, this thesis illustrates how the interplay between
structure and label information can explain how humans can acquire richer kinds of category
knowledge.
School/Discipline
School of Psychology
Dissertation Note
Thesis (Ph.D.) (Research by Publication) -- University of Adelaide, School of Psychology, 2018
Provenance
This electronic version is made publicly available by the University of Adelaide in accordance with its open access policy for student theses. Copyright in this thesis remains with the author. This thesis may incorporate third party material which has been used by the author pursuant to Fair Dealing exceptions. If you are the owner of any included third party copyright material you wish to be removed from this electronic version, please complete the take down form located at: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/legals