Association of neutral objects with rewards: Persistence of effect upon verbal evaluation

Abstract

A slot machine-like apparatus was used to pair repeatedly a geometrical form with the delivery of a penny. Thirty-eight second- and third-grade boys played the machine each day for 12 days. After being paired with reward, the geometrical form was evaluated more positively by the S s as measured by an adjective checklist. After the tweifth session the penny delivery was suspended, and the S s continued to play the machine each day for 7 more days without getting pennies. For half the S s, the F-A group, the geometrical form was removed from the slot machine for the last 7 sessions. For the other half of the S s, the F-P group, the geometrical form was left in the machine for the last 7 sessions. The S s' evaluation of the form was measured after each of the last 7 sessions by means of the same adjective checklist. It was found that the geometrical form continued to be evaluated just as positively by both groups during the last 7 sessions as it was at the end of first 12 sessions.