Research papers on prototypicality

Research papers on prototypicality explore how people identify and categorize items based on their resemblance to an ideal example, or "prototype," of a category. For instance, a robin might be considered a more prototypical bird than a penguin because it exhibits many common bird features. These studies examine how prototypes influence our perceptions, language, and decision-making by revealing which characteristics are most central to defining categories. Understanding prototypicality helps clarify how we organize knowledge mentally and communicate efficiently about the world around us.