The precriterion phase in verbal discrimination learning

Abstract

Summary The purpose of the present study was to determine if increments in correct response occur in verbal discrimination learning during the precriterion trials. Previous studies of this issue have involved comparisons of different Ss and different items on successive trials, as fast learners and easy items reached criterion and were dropped from the analysis. In the present study, the precriterion data for each item was Vincentized into three blocks of trials; thus each item was equally weighted in all blocks of trials. Fifty-nine Ss learned a 15-item verbal discrimination task in which each item consisted of five CVCs, and S was to learn which CVC was correct for a given item. The Ss were divided into two groups which differed only in which CVC in an item was considered correct. After each item, S was told the correct response. Ss were given 20 trials. Precriterion trials were those preceding 80% correct performance on an item.Results indicated a progressive increment in correct responses during the precriterion trials. These results suggest that learning is incremental, rather than all-or-none, and is thus inconsistent with Bower's (1962) position. An alternative possibility, that Ss learn to eliminate incorrect responses, thus increasing the probability of guessing the correct response, is also inconsistent with Bower's (1962) position.