Studies in Efficiency: Categorizing Efficiency of Schizophrenics and Normals

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Abstract
It was hypothesized that schizophrenics would adapt their categorizing behavior to meet the demands imposed by payoff matrices less efficiently than normals. In addition, efficiency theory was compared to the over-inclusion hypothesis. 30 schizophrenics and 30 normals categorized a rapidly presented array as containing either 20 or 22 dots under each of 6 conditions determined by 3 matrices and 2 directions of S's attention One matrix required accuracy, one a bias toward 20 dots, and one a bias toward 22 dots. Ss earned money depending on how well they met the demands of the matrices. The predicted interaction between degree of psychopathology and ability to adapt categorizing behavior to meet the demands set by payoff matrices was observed. Normals earned more money than schizophrenics. Schizophrenics were not more inclusive in a category, if their attention was directed to that category, than normals.

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