Rule Learning and Transfer in Oddity and Discrimination Problems

Abstract

BOWERS, NANCY PARSLEY. Rule Learning and Transfer in Oddity and Discrimination Problems. CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 1976, 47, 1130-1137. Cognitive organization in problem solving was investigated using a transfer prardigm. Type of original learning problem (oddity or discrimination), type of transfer problem (oddity or discrimination), relevant dimension in original learning (color or form), and relevant dimension in transfer (color or form) were varied factorially. The obtained effects of rules or problem type were stronger than those of attention or dimensions. The findings, in general, supported a hierarchical model in which the subject first selects a general problem-solving rule, then attends to a vehicle dimension, and finally chooses a cue. The implications of the findings for future research and theory construction are discussed with emphases on the oddity problem and the importance of rules, respectively.