Rosenthal, Grace (2012) Reverse Category Norming: Exploring Current Category Labels, the Role of Basic Level Processing and Survey Modality. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
Category norming data is used to understand a variety of cognitive processes. Research in this area began in the 1950s, with the data sets produced and the categories tested remaining popular sources of stimuli for other areas of cognitive study today. Although these 1950s categories have remained useful, it was important to reassess whether, after more than 50 years, these category labels are still valid representations of common category classificatory systems. The current study also allowed for the exploration of basic-level processing as it applied to this task and also allowed for the assessment of whether survey modality played a role in response patterns. The current study used response data for 150 categories contained in the Australian Normative Database and provided participants with the top five instances of each category and asked them to respond with the category to which they believed it belonged. One hundred and forty six participants from the University of Southern Queensland’s first year psychology program and others from Toowoomba and surrounding areas were surveyed using this reversed traditional category norming methodology. Results revealed a number of categories which could be altered or replaced for use in future category norming surveys and a number of categories in which basic-level processing appeared to influence response. Results revealed no statistically significant differences between paper and online survey methods. Future researchers should be conscious of the category labels they use, the role underlying cognitive processes can play in category norming research and should have little hesitation in choosing to conduct research online.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Sciences - Department of Psychology (Up to 30 Jun 2013) |
| Supervisors: | Liam Hendry |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 09 Oct 2025 01:13 |
| Last Modified: | 09 Oct 2025 01:13 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | category norming ; basic-level processing ; paper survey ; online survey |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52713 |
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