Discrimination learning with varying numbers of positive and negative stimuli by children of different ages

Abstract

Children of 5 to 6 yr. and 8 to 9 yr. of age were given a two choice discrimination task with either (1) one positive stimulus and two or three negative stimuli (only one of which was used at a time), or (2) two or three positive stimuli and one negative stimulus. Younger children had as many solutions on each type of task while the older Ss were successful only with a single positive stimulus and multiple negative stimuli.