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Measurement of categorical clustering in free recall
Author(s) -
White Richard T.,
Kelly Mavis E.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
british journal of psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.536
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 2044-8295
pISSN - 0007-1269
DOI - 10.1111/j.2044-8295.1978.tb02122.x
Subject(s) - psychology , categorical variable , free recall , cluster analysis , construct (python library) , recall , function (biology) , cognitive psychology , monotonic function , social psychology , statistics , mathematics , computer science , mathematical analysis , evolutionary biology , biology , programming language
The problem of whether one can assume a monotonic relationship between the construct, tendency to organize verbal stimuli in free recall, and current clustering indexes is discussed in the light of Colle's criticism that clustering indexes have no theoretical basis. It is argued that there is a primitive theory which assumes that clustering measures increase as a function of increases in the construct. Consideration is also given to Shuell's claim that choice between indexes depends on the psychological and statistical assumptions one is prepared to accept. This claim is endorsed but it is argued that it is possible to distinguish between indexes which share the same assumptions by consideration of the basic properties which they need to possess in order to be suitable research instruments.