Mediated responding on a multiple-choice test-only list following the acquisition of a double-function list

Abstract

A mediation paradigm employing a “double-function” paired-associate list for the acquisition of the A-B and B-C chaining associations was investigated. Following acquisition of the double-function list, Ss received four multiple-choice test trials on a list containing “chaining” items for which one alternative could be chosen on the basis of a mediating chain. The tendency to choose the alternative represented by the mediating chain was significantly greater than chance in an unmixed list but was of only borderline significance for chaining items in a mixed list, for which only half the items were chaining items.