Evaluating Concept Formation in Multiple Exemplar Training with Musical Chords

Abstract

The present study evaluated a teaching procedure based on Multiple Exemplar Training (MET) to establish conditional relations between musical chords and printed words. In addition, generalization tests were provided to participants to assess concept formation processes for different types of musical chords (e.g., major, minor, consonant, and dissonant). Forty college students were equally distributed into two groups. Group 1 was taught the conditional relations between major and minor chords using different notes and the printed words “MAJOR” and “MINOR.” Group 2 was taught the conditional relations between consonant and dissonant chords using different notes and the printed words “CONSONANT” and “DISSONANT.” Generalization tests were given in between each training phase. Five participants from Group 1 and seven participants from Group 2 achieved the learning criteria for all training phases. The results revealed that the average percentage of correct responses during the last generalization test was higher when compared to the pretest for both groups. Our findings suggest that the MET procedure was suitable for establishing conditional relations between musical chords and printed words. Moreover, the generalization test results revealed the concept formation processes for some participants.