An experimental analysis of a coding response theory of discrimination learning

dc.contributor.authorCook, Michael Stephenen
dc.contributor.departmentPsychologyen
dc.date.accessioned2016-04-07T15:31:12Zen
dc.date.available2016-04-07T15:31:12Zen
dc.date.issued1975en
dc.description.abstractThe present study has proposed four functional rules for a coding response theory of discrimination learning. Two of these rules, 1) coding responses occur in the presence of experimental stimuli and produce discriminative stimulus consequences, and 2) code items are values or a particular stimulus dimension, were assumed by the experimental conditions. The other two rules, 1) coding responses might be any artibrary response topography, and 2) coding is necessary for discrimination learning, are tested by the experiment. Eighteen first grade and 65 college level subjects were exposed to conditional discrimination problems under one of three coding conditions, an explicated manual code, an explicated verbal code or a no explicated code condition. Subjects using either the verbal or the manual coding forms learned at approximately the same rate, supporting the rule stating that coding response topographies may be arbitrary. No first grade non-explicit subject ever learned the conditional discrimination. This finding supports the rule asserting necessity of coding. However, all college level non-explicit subjects learned, and at a rate equal to that of the two explicit coding groups. An analysis of verbal reports taken at the end of training for the non-explicit college subjects revealed that all of these subjects reported using some form of self-initiated coding. This finding adds support to the assertion that coding is a necessary part of discrimination learning. The results of the study support the plausibility of an objectively based coding response theory of discrimination learning. Such an account readily lends itself to further research and to practical applications.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.format.extentiv, 39 leavesen
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/65056en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
dc.relation.isformatofOCLC# 34090943en
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subject.lccLD5655.V855 1975.C655en
dc.titleAn experimental analysis of a coding response theory of discrimination learningen
dc.typeThesisen
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten
thesis.degree.disciplinePsychologyen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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