[Sigia-l] IA and Prototype Theory

[Sarah Brodwall]

At Friday, 12/03/2004  17:14, Michael Fry wrote:
>Prototype theory, basic-level categories, exemplars, etc. are all 
>important WRT how people understand and classify concepts, objects, etc., 
>so while there might not be much existing literature that makes the 
>*explicit* tie to IA, I hardly think it's a pipe dream to think that you 
>could do so. Seems like a very natural fit.

I thought so, too, but the lack of previous research was making me paranoid.

>As it happens, I was just reading a book called "How Maps Work" --I'm a 
>map librarian--which includes a good discussion on prototype theory vs. 
>traditional classification, etc. So, it always seems to come full-circle!

I will check this out--looking at the table of contents, it seems there's a 
lot of fascinating stuff in there.

>Good luck, and keep us posted. :)

I will do that.  I want to be sure that any work I do on this thesis won't 
end up as useless Ivory Tower rumination.  Since I haven't worked as an IA 
before, I'm planning on using this list as a sounding board for my 
ideas.  Hope y'all don't mind.  :)

--
Sarah Brodwall                     Time you enjoy wasting is not
sjb at broadpark.no                   wasted time.    ~T. S. Eliot