Attitudinal maintenance of cognitive categorization.

Two experiments were performed that investigated attitudinal influences on cognitive categorization. The studies assessed categorization as a dynamic process with a multiple-sort (MS) technique, having Ss recategorize sentences unti! they ran out of meaningful categories. Condition I allowed Ss to use any dimensions they chose, and Condition It imposed the restraint of the "favorable-unfavorable" dimension. No effects of involvement were found when unrestricted sorting was allowed but were found when the evaluative dimension was imposed. There appeared to be a tendency for attitudinal involvement to maintain complexity across sorts. Results were discussed in terms of the influence of dimensions and the possible effects of certain stimulus properties on the maintenance of categorization complexity.