NIH Clinical Research Studies

Protocol Number: 00-CH-0035

Active Accrual, Protocols Recruiting New Patients

Title:
The Development of Categorization
Number:
00-CH-0035
Summary:
It is commonly believed that objects in the world can be categorized in at least three different ways or levels. The three levels are basic, superordinate, and subordinate. Previously it was believed that basic categorization presents a cognitive (mental) advantage to children's development. However, recent studies on superordinate categorization has challenged this belief.

1. Items in superordinate are grouped according to functional purpose, even though they may not share any similarities in how they look (perception). For instance, desks, chairs, and beds do not appear similar but they can be group together in the superordinate category of furniture.

2. Items in basic categorization share similarities in function and in perception. For instance, chairs can be considered as a basic category. Chairs can share functional and perceptual similarities with many kinds of chairs but are readily distinguished from other types of furniture like beds or desks.

3. Subordinate categories are subsets of basic categories. For instance, kitchen chairs, desk chairs, and high chairs, are all within the basic category of chairs. Each one is very similar in it's function to the others but is definitely discriminable.

This study was developed to investigate the development of categorization at all three levels by using a design in which children between the ages of 1 and 3 years are tested for categorization at all three levels with sets of objects from the same domain (such as vehicle or fruit). Researchers plan to chart when infants develop categorization at the basic, subordinate, and superordinate levels over the two-year period.

Sponsoring Institute:
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Recruitment Detail
Type: Active Accrual Of New Subjects
Gender: Male & Female
Referral Letter Required: No
Population Exclusion(s): None

Eligibility Criteria:
INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Infants must be healthy.

Normal pregnancy/delivery status, term birth (plus or minus 14 days from due date), and no evidence of subsequent visual impairments or neurological disorders.

Special Instructions: Currently Not Provided
Keywords:
Development
Sequential Touching
Children
Cognition
Classification
Recruitment Keywords:
None
Conditions:
Cognition Disorder
Healthy
Investigational Drug(s):
None
Investigational Device(s):
None

Contacts:
Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office
Building 61
10 Cloister Court
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-4754
Toll Free: 1-800-411-1222
TTY: 301-594-9774 (local),1-866-411-1010 (toll free)
Fax: 301-480-9793

Electronic Mail:prpl@mail.cc.nih.gov

Citations:
On developing a knowledge base in infancy

The cognitive basis of classification in very young children: an analysis of object-ordering trends

Active Accrual, Protocols Recruiting New Patients

If you have:


Command Menu Bar

Search The Studies | Help | Questions |
Clinical Center Home | NIH Home


Clinical Center LogoWarren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center (CC)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Bethesda, Maryland 20892. Last update: 10/16/2004

Search The Studies Help Questions