Роль вербальной репрезентации в оценке категориальных суждений

Abstract

The study examines the role of inner speech measured by verbal representation scale in assessment of category judgments and in transfer from the category example to the whole category. We used the conventionality effect of the category label, meaning that people perceive judgments containing commonly used category labels as more convincing even when the category itself is new, and its label is artificial [11]. We proposed that this effect can be enhanced if to use a metaphorical label for the category that emphasizes its feature. We also tested whether the metaphorical label could enhance the transfer of the feature from the category example to the whole category. We hypothesized that the conventionality effect and transfer of the trait will be different in participants depending on their level of verbal representation. In the first part of the study, we adapted the Internal Representation Questionnaire [16] and used verbal representation scale from it to divide participants into groups by their level of inner speech. The results show that participants with higher level of verbal representation were less influenced by the conventionality effect of the label. We also found that participants with lower level of verbal representation were more prone to transfer information of the metaphorical labels. Otherwise, participants with higher level of verbal representation were more inclined to transfer category information of non-metaphorical labels. The findings indicate the relationship between individual differences in verbal representation level and evaluation of category judgments.