What evidence is consistent with the prototype theory of meaning?
A) Research participants are able to identify the single feature that is necessary and sufficient to define something as a member of a class.
B) Research participants find it easier to list words that are similar in meaning (wicked-evil) than words that are opposite in meaning (wicked-good).
C) Research participants are easily able to list words that define a particular member of a category.
D) Research participants judge some members of a category to be more representative than others.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to the prototype theory of meaning, some members of a category are more representative than others. This means that when asked to think of a category such as "fruit", people are more likely to think of common and prototypical examples like apples and bananas, rather than less common or peripheral examples like dragonfruit or durian. This phenomenon is consistent with the idea that categories are organized around prototypes, which are the best or most typical examples of a particular category.

What Evidence Is Consistent with the Prototype Theory of Meaning