Lea, Erin

Percentage of participants that chose the taxonomic categorization (triangle) as 'Dax' by European Canadians, Indian, and Chinese students. Bars represent standard errors. Task was completed in the students' native language (Study 2).

Thematic-Taxonomic categorical groupings by European Canadians, Indian, and Chinese students. Bars represent standard errors. Task was completed in the students' native language (Study 2).

Relationship between Thematic-Taxonomic Categorization Score and Heritage Culture Score in Chinese students (N=24). Task was completed in English (Study 1).

Thematic-Taxonomic categorical groupings by European Canadians, Indian, and Chinese students for both versions of the task. Bars represent standard errors. Task was completed in English (Study 1).

While there has been extensive research comparing the thinking styles of Chinese and European American students, there is relatively little looking at Indian students. We have been exploring whether Indian students categorize objects based on taxonomic or thematic categorization. Our previous research suggested that International Students from India categorize using more thematic categorization than European Canadian students when completing the task in English, but not in their native language (Hindi or Punjabi). The current project aimed to replicate this finding and explore whether categorization style was influenced by acculturation, or a measure of how much the students have adopted to the Canadian culture.

The Culture and Cognition Research Team meeting over Zoom: Josh Mulingbayan, Erin Lea, and Nina Edwards.

While there has been extensive research comparing the thinking styles of Chinese and European American students, there is relatively little looking at Indian students. The goal of this project was to determine if Indian students categorize objects based on taxonomic or thematic categorization. How we categorize is a reflection of how we organize our world. This research is the first that we know of that compares categorization styles between East Asian, European Canadian, and Indian participants.