Verbal discrimination transfer in two paradigms as a function of conceptual similarity and anticipation interval

Abstract

In the acquisition of a first verbal discrimination list, the variable manipulated was conceptual similarity, high or low, among both the correct and the incorrect words within the list. Upon transfer to a second verbal discrimination list, the variables were transfer paradigm, conceptual similarity for the words within the second list and anticipation interval (longer or shorter than on List 1). In the Type 1 paradigm correct words in List 1 appeared as incorrect words in List 2. In the Type 2 paradigm correct words in List 1 were replaced by conceptually similar words, which were incorrect, in List 2. In the Control paradigm all words in List 1 were unrelated to the words in List 2. Conceptual similarity did not affect List-1 learning. On List 2 both the Type 1 and Type 2 paradigms produced positive transfer, compared to the Control, on early trials. Transfer in the Type 1 paradigm was uneffected by conceptual similarity, but in the Type 2 paradigm high similarity resulted in more transfer than low similarity. The longer anticipation interval produced better performance in all groups but did not differentially influence transfer in any paradigm. In later transfer the Type 1 but not the Type 2 paradigm resulted in positive transfer.