Generalized equivalence classes as response transfer networks.
Item
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Title
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Generalized equivalence classes as response transfer networks.
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Identifier
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AAI3024761
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identifier
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3024761
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Creator
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Belanich, James.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Lanny Fields
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Date
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2001
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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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Psychology, Experimental | Psychology, Behavioral
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Abstract
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College students formed two perceptual classes and then two 3-node 5-member equivalence classes in a matching-to-sample procedure. One stimulus in each perceptual class was also a member of one equivalence class. The subjects in Groups 1 and 2 formed equivalence classes with nodes that served two stimulus functions. The subjects in Group 3 formed equivalence classes with nodes that served one stimulus function. Although the number of functions served by the nodal stimuli did not affect the likelihood of equivalence class formation, it had a direct effect on the speed of learning the conditional discriminations that were the prerequisites of equivalence class formation. All subjects in all groups then demonstrated generalized equivalence classes by selecting members of the equivalence class in the presence of all members of the linked perceptual class. Then, different responses were trained to one stimulus in each class and to a stimulus that was not a member of either class. The responses were trained to different class members in different groups. All subjects in Groups 1 and 2 and half of the subjects in Group 3 showed transfer of the response to all remaining class members, regardless of the class member to which the response was trained. The remaining subjects in Group 3 did not show response transfer. Thus, the likelihood of response transfer through a generalized equivalence class varied with the number of functions served by the nodal stimuli in a class. For the subjects who failed the response transfer test, only a portion of the perceptual classes became related to the members of their linked equivalence classes. Thus, the failure of response transfer was preceded by a limited linkage of stimuli in perceptual and equivalence classes. These results suggest that the strength of relations among the stimuli in an equivalence class was influenced by the number of functions served by nodal stimuli in the class.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
