A Measure of Semantic Category Clustering in Free-Listing Tasks

Abstract

A measure of semantic category (subset) clustering in free lists is presented that has several advantages over other cluster measures: (1) it is independent of interitem distances; (2) it expresses the degree of clustering of semantic subsets within a list, and overall, as proportions of a maximum that ranges from 0 to 1; and (3) this ratio can be used to compare the degree of clustering within semantic subsets in the same list, overall, and across lists, despite list inequalities in the number of items or subsets. An example of the measure's use is illustrated here from a study of laterality in American kinship.

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