Einstellung as a Determinant of Equivalence Range

Abstract

Are differences in perceptual set sufficient to predict different categorizing behaviour? In problem solving, repeated application of the same rule will induce an Einstellung effea, i.e., Ss will continue to solve similar tasks by the initial rule rather than by simpler rules allowed by the conditions of subsequent tasks. Hence, to the extent that objectsorting performance depends on the number of stimulus aspects analyzed during grouping, that performance should also be susceptible to an Einstellung effect induced by repeated previous application of strategies entailing analysis of other stimuli in terms of aspects that are either consistently identical, or consistently non-identical. Three groups were first matched on equivalence range by their performance on a figure-sorting task. One group was then told: You will now be given 10 pairs of words. Your task is to write down all the similarities that you can think of that exist between the words in each pair. For instance, if the words are ORANGE and LEMON you might write 'fruits,' 'juicy,' etc. Another group was told . . Your task is to write down all the differences . . . For instance, if the words are ORANGE and LEMON you might write 'taste,' 'colour,' etc. The third group served as a control group and did nothing during this period. All 3 groups were then given Gardner's (1953) object-sorting test. Unpaid volunteer hospital employees served as Ss; 18 were male and 18 female.