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Effects of Non-reinforced Test Trials on Transposition

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Date Issued:
1968
Summary:
Ten male albino rats were trained In a brightness discrimination problem where they were reQuired to choose a sttmulus value of 0.053 ft/cd over one of 0.012 ft/cd. Pairs were matched accordlng to the number of trials requtred to reach a criterion of 18/20 correct responses then randomly assigned to one of two grouos for testing In transposition. Both groups were tested on the orlgtnally positive stimulus and a brighter one: 1.25 ft/cd for Group 8-C and 5.38 ft/cd for Group 8-D. By testing for transposttlon wtth non-reinforced trials, contrary to the usual method, a tendency toward converging measures of transposltton was achteved. Transposition for Group 8-D, In the situation most dissimilar to training, was greater than for 8-C. These results were discussed from relational or Gestalt, Spence model, and Adaptation Level positions and It was shown that the results are contrary to traditional Gestalt predictions. It was oredlcted that, according to underlying assumptions of the Spence model, with continued non-reinforced trials, per cent of transposition for both groups would decrease until a chance level of responding was reached. That this did not occur cannot be explained by the Spence model. Because the variability was too great with such a small N, these results did not reach the .05 level of probability.
Title: Effects of Non-reinforced Test Trials on Transposition.
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Name(s): Royal, Jackson W.
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: 1968
Date Issued: 1968
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 52 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: Ten male albino rats were trained In a brightness discrimination problem where they were reQuired to choose a sttmulus value of 0.053 ft/cd over one of 0.012 ft/cd. Pairs were matched accordlng to the number of trials requtred to reach a criterion of 18/20 correct responses then randomly assigned to one of two grouos for testing In transposition. Both groups were tested on the orlgtnally positive stimulus and a brighter one: 1.25 ft/cd for Group 8-C and 5.38 ft/cd for Group 8-D. By testing for transposttlon wtth non-reinforced trials, contrary to the usual method, a tendency toward converging measures of transposltton was achteved. Transposition for Group 8-D, In the situation most dissimilar to training, was greater than for 8-C. These results were discussed from relational or Gestalt, Spence model, and Adaptation Level positions and It was shown that the results are contrary to traditional Gestalt predictions. It was oredlcted that, according to underlying assumptions of the Spence model, with continued non-reinforced trials, per cent of transposition for both groups would decrease until a chance level of responding was reached. That this did not occur cannot be explained by the Spence model. Because the variability was too great with such a small N, these results did not reach the .05 level of probability.
Identifier: FA00012596 (IID)
Degree granted: Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1968.
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Subject(s): Transfer of training
Discrimination learning
Extinction (Psychology)
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Sublocation: Digital Library
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00012596
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Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.