Abstract
It is proposed that concepts contain two types of properties. Context-independent properties are activated by the word for a concept on all occasions. The activation of these properties is unaffected by contextual relevance. Context-dependent properties are not activated by the respective word independent of context. Rather, these properties are activated only by relevant contexts in which the word appears. Context-independent properties form the core meanings of words, whereas context-dependent properties are a source of semantic encoding variability. This proposal lies between two opposing theories of meaning, one that argues all properties of a concept are active on all occasions and another that argues the active properties are completely determined by context. The existence of context-independent and context-dependent properties is demonstrated in two experimental settings: the property-verification task and judgments of similarity. The relevance of these property types to cross-classification, problem solving, metaphor and sentence comprehension, and the semantic-episodic distinction is discussed.
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This research was supported by Grant MH 13950 from the National Institute of Mental Health to Gordon H. Bower and by a National Science Foundation graduate fellowship to the author.
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Barsalou, L.W. Context-independent and context-dependent information in concepts. Memory & Cognition 10, 82–93 (1982). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03197629
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03197629