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Contrast Effects: Shifts in Work Load

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Date Issued:
1967
Summary:
The observation of contrast effects (CE) in response to differential relnforcenent has subsequently elicited a diversity of experimental results and theoretical interpretations. Adaptation Level (AL ) concepts have provided a mechanism for integrating such data within a psychophysical frame-of-reference approach. The application of this approach to the somewhat neglected area of response-produced stimuli associated with effort, suggests that proprioceptive stimuli may be effectively evaluated in a simllar manner. Following shifts in the amount of effort required to produce a constant reward magnitude, performance measures demonstrated positive and negative contrast effects (PCE; NCE) in relation to an appropriate control performance. Data analysis suggested that the combined effects of greater effort and shift conditions tended to increase resistance to extinction. The findings are not consistent Kith traditional (e. g., Hull, Spence) concepts with regard to CE and the influence of effort on performance. It is suggested that such effects are more consistent with a contextual, or frame-of- reference, viewpoint.
Title: Contrast Effects: Shifts in Work Load.
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Name(s): Gunn, Diana H.
Adamson, Robert E., Thesis advisor
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Department of Psychology
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Date Created: 1967
Date Issued: 1967
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 48 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: The observation of contrast effects (CE) in response to differential relnforcenent has subsequently elicited a diversity of experimental results and theoretical interpretations. Adaptation Level (AL ) concepts have provided a mechanism for integrating such data within a psychophysical frame-of-reference approach. The application of this approach to the somewhat neglected area of response-produced stimuli associated with effort, suggests that proprioceptive stimuli may be effectively evaluated in a simllar manner. Following shifts in the amount of effort required to produce a constant reward magnitude, performance measures demonstrated positive and negative contrast effects (PCE; NCE) in relation to an appropriate control performance. Data analysis suggested that the combined effects of greater effort and shift conditions tended to increase resistance to extinction. The findings are not consistent Kith traditional (e. g., Hull, Spence) concepts with regard to CE and the influence of effort on performance. It is suggested that such effects are more consistent with a contextual, or frame-of- reference, viewpoint.
Identifier: FA00012587 (IID)
Degree granted: Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1967.
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Subject(s): Performance
Reinforcement (Psychology)
Reward (Psychology)
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Sublocation: Digital Library
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00012587
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
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Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.