Generalization decrement in human contingency learning. Q J Exp Psychol (Hove) 2006 Jul;59(7):1212-23
Date
06/14/2006Pubmed ID
16769621DOI
10.1080/17470210600576342Scopus ID
2-s2.0-33745115005 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 21 CitationsAbstract
An association between a cue and an outcome will generalize to a similar novel cue to some extent, but not completely. Learning theorists refer to the discrepancy between responding elicited by the original cue and the novel cue as a generalization decrement. Two experiments used a contingency learning task with human participants to compare the size of a generalization decrement between configurations of cues that were altered by adding or subtracting compositional elements. The results suggest that adding elements to a configuration can produce a generalization decrement, but removing elements produces a more robust generalization decrement. Furthermore, the generalization decrement caused by adding elements was not likely to be caused by competing orienting responses. The results are used to contrast Pearce's (1987, 1994) and Wagner's (2003) models of stimulus generalization.
Author List
Wheeler DS, Amundson JC, Miller RRAuthor
Jeffrey C. Amundson PhD Assistant Professor in the Medical School Regional Campus Central Wisconsin department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
CuesFemale
Humans
Learning
Male
