Enhanced equivalence class formation by prior discrimination training: Simulating the class-enhancing effects of meaningful stimuli
Item
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Title
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Enhanced equivalence class formation by prior discrimination training: Simulating the class-enhancing effects of meaningful stimuli
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Identifier
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d_2009_2013:fcc100f78af2:11617
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identifier
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12160
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Creator
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Travis, Robert W.,
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Contributor
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Lanny Fields
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Date
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2013
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Cognitive psychology | Behavioral psychology | concept formation | discrimination training | equivalence class | mastery criterion | meaning | overtraining
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Abstract
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This experiment documented the effects of manipulating the type, mastery criterion, and overtraining used during prior discrimination training on the likelihood of subsequent equivalence class formation. Seven groups of college students attempted to form two, 3-node, 5-member equivalence classes (ABCDE) using the simultaneous protocol. In the PIC condition, the A, B, D, and E stimuli were nonsense syllables while the C stimuli were pictures of common objects. In all other conditions, the stimuli were nonsense syllables. In the ABS condition, no prior discrimination training was conducted. In all remaining groups, some discrimination training was conducted with the C stimuli before participants attempted to form equivalence classes. In the 84-0-0 condition, participants received simultaneous discrimination training with the C stimuli. In the 84-5-0, 84-20-0, 84-20-100, and 84-20-500 conditions, participants received simultaneous and successive discrimination training but different numbers of successive discrimination trials were presented across groups. Ten percent and 85% formed classes (yield) in the ABS and PIC conditions. Simultaneous discrimination training alone produced a slight increase in yield relative to no discrimination training. Combined simultaneous and successive training produced a greater increase in yield than did simultaneous training only. Yields following increases in pre-class formation successive discrimination training remained stable around 50% until 500 overtraining trials were conducted, at which point, the yield was similar to that obtained when a meaningful picture was used as a member of an equivalence class. Thus, the class-enhancing properties of meaningful stimuli can be replicated by providing a considerable amount of overtraining of one behavioral function served by a meaningful stimulus.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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2009_2013.csv
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degree
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Ph.D.
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Program
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Psychology
