Application of the Best-Example Theory of Categorization to Concept Development and Communication Training With Severely Handicapped Students

The effect of object selection on the development of generalized object categories, and generalized labeling of objects within categories, was investigated with severely handicapped students. Development of object categories was monitored through manual sign training. The effectiveness of three strategies to select objects for use during sign training was explored. Selection was conducted according to the tenets of the best-example theory of categorization. The strategies for selection were defined according to the number of examples and the level of goodness-of-example of examples presented during training. The specific strategies were as follows: presentation of one good example (GE1); presentation of three good examples (GE3); and presentation of one good, one moderate, and one poor example (ALL). Acquisition and generalization of manual signs were tested in both receptive and expressive response modalities.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Education

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2014

Author dc:creator

• Hupp, Susan Candis

• Education, Special

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(UMI)AAI8026525

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/65958