Abstract:

This study presents a synthesis of research data regarding categorization in infancy. The main issues discussed here are: the most used methods with infants; perceptual and conceptual information taken into account in categorization; the structure and the function of objects; content and process of categorization. Recent studies show that the development of categorization is gradual and continuous, and the perceptual information is essential for conceptual categories as well as for the perceptual ones. Researchers argue that progress of our knowledge about infants' categorization will be fostered by considering the process of building categories in early years and the contextual cues that infants take into account.

Keywords: knowledge, perceptual categories, conceptual categories, categorization, infants