The Rated Typicality of Items in Semantic Categories: Some Irish Norms

Abstract

The members of common semantic categories vary in how well they exemplify the category to which they belong. This variable, generally known as typicality, can be quantified by having the category members rated for goodness-of-example, and has been shown to affect various psychological measures of cognitive performance. Typicality ratings were collected from Northern Ireland university students for 20 semantic categories. The ratings are shown to be reliable, and arc compared with norms collected in the U.S.A. The agreement between Northern Ireland and American ratings varies with category, from very good (e.g. for Furniture) through moderately good (Bird) to virtually non-existent (Toy). Some cautions are advised both in interpreting the Northern Ireland American comparisons and in assessing particular instances for typicality.