The importance of being nonalignable: A critical test of the structural alignment theory of similarity. Estes, Z. & Hasson, U. J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn, 30(5):1082-92, 2004.
doi  abstract   bibtex   
The structural alignment theory of similarity distinguishes 2 types of difference that may occur between stimuli: Alignable differences are those related to a commonality, whereas nonalignable differences are not related to a commonality. Alignment theory predicts that alignable differences should be more heavily weighted than nonalignable differences in similarity judgment. Experiments 1 and 2 demonstrate that, contrary to this prediction, nonalignable differences exerted a greater impact than alignable differences in similarity and difference judgments of geometric stimuli. Experiment 3 revealed that the relative weight accorded a given difference was also affected by contextual constraints. Thus, although the experiments supported the validity of the distinction between alignable and nonalignable differences, results were discordant with the specific prediction of structural alignment theory.
@Article{Estes2004,
  author   = {Zachary Estes and Uri Hasson},
  journal  = {J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn},
  title    = {The importance of being nonalignable: {A} critical test of the structural alignment theory of similarity.},
  year     = {2004},
  number   = {5},
  pages    = {1082-92},
  volume   = {30},
  abstract = {The structural alignment theory of similarity distinguishes 2 types
	of difference that may occur between stimuli: Alignable differences
	are those related to a commonality, whereas nonalignable differences
	are not related to a commonality. Alignment theory predicts that
	alignable differences should be more heavily weighted than nonalignable
	differences in similarity judgment. Experiments 1 and 2 demonstrate
	that, contrary to this prediction, nonalignable differences exerted
	a greater impact than alignable differences in similarity and difference
	judgments of geometric stimuli. Experiment 3 revealed that the relative
	weight accorded a given difference was also affected by contextual
	constraints. Thus, although the experiments supported the validity
	of the distinction between alignable and nonalignable differences,
	results were discordant with the specific prediction of structural
	alignment theory.},
  doi      = {10.1037/0278-7393.30.5.1082},
  keywords = {Form Perception, Humans, Judgment, Non-U.S. Gov't, Psychological Theory, Research Support, 15355137},
}

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