Due: Monday April 14, 2008 at the beginning of lecture

(1) Ask 3-5 people:
I'm going to read you some numbers and for each one I want you to tell me how typical that number is for the category "odd numbers".  Your answer should be one of the following: 1 very typical, 2 pretty typical, 3 average, 4 pretty atypical, 5 very atypical.
As you read each number, ask the person, 'Is it 1 very typical, 2 pretty typical, 3 average, 4 pretty atypical, 5 very atypical?' and record his or her responses.
37
2
3
1,000,000
42
5,089
68
93
1
526
(a) When you are done, make a table to present your data.
(b) What pattern of behavior does the defining attribute theory predict will occur in this experiment?
(c) Do your results confirm the predictions of the defining attribute (classical) theory? Explain how they do or do not.
(d) What pattern of behavior does the prototype theory predict will occur in this experiment?
(e) Do your results confirm the predictions of prototype theory? Explain how they do or do not.

(2) On a categorization task, your subjects learn to categorize the following patients as having either plurosis or multinomia, based on the symptoms described in the following two tables.
 

(a) Given a patient with symptoms skin rash, dry eyes, and rapid breathing, what does prototype theory predict will happen? That is, how will your subjects categorize this patient and why?

(b) Do exemplar models make a different prediction in this case? Briefly explain.

(c) Given a patient with symptoms skin spots, sunken eyes, and rapid breathing, which diagnosis will your subjects make?  Assuming prototype theory, will this classification be easier or harder to decide than the patient described in (a)? Briefly explain.

(d) Given patient PF' (skin spots, normal eyes, and wheezing) and patient P-None (skin sores, normal eyes, uneven breathing), subjects were more likely to diagnose PF' than P-None as having plurosis.  Explain why this argues for exemplar models of categorization.

(3) Pick a television show (book/play/movie/etc) that has a very predictable structure (e.g. old Scooby Doo episodes).  Write a script that includes props, roles, and at least 3 scenes (complete with one or two propositions associated with each).

(4) What TOP and/or TAU might be activated by the show (or whatever alternative) you picked in question (3)?

(5) (a) What is a MOP?
(b) What is a meta-MOP?
(c)  Let's define the overall scene as the drive-thru line at Taco Bell, and the goal as getting food. There are 2 MOPs operating, one for fast-food restaurants and one for drive-thru service. Draw a diagram showing the interconnection of the 2 MOPs and a number of scenes (mini-scenes) that occur between entering the line and leaving with your food.

(6) A friend of yours is coming to town on business and you arrange over the phone to meet him at his accommodation. He says "I just checked in."
(a) What frame is evoked by these words in your head?
(b) What is the idealized prototypical script for that frame?

(7) Consider the following sentences:
(a) Multi-millionaire Kerry Packer is determined to buy the famous 18th century Packer portraits her father commissioned.
(b) Virgin Atlantic is likely to buy Trent 800s.
(c) I've got to buy a package of muesli and some orange juice.
(d) That country is simply not prepared to buy into nuclear power.
FrameNet describes the Commerce_buy frame as: The BUYER wants the GOODS and offers MONEY to a SELLER in exchange for them. For (a) through (d), tell what the values are for these attributes. If you can't tell what the value is for a given attribute just write '???' next to it.
(e) Which of these four examples is least well captured by the Commerce_buy frame? Why?