Discrimination reversal performance in children as a function of prereversal experience and overlearning

The overlearning reversal effect in preschool children as a function of age

“…studies with squirrel monkeys (Cross & Brown, 1965;Cross, Fickling, Carpenter, & Brown, 1964) not only failed to demonstrate a facilitation of reversal performance following overlearning but actually suggested that increased original training retards reversal. Similar failures to observe the ORE have been reported with Capuchin monkeys (D' Amato, 1965), stump-tailed monkeys (Boyer & Cross, 1965), rhesus monkeys (Cross & Boyer, 1966;Tighe, 1965), and with five-year-old children (Vaughter & Cross, 1965). Other negative findings with children have also been observed (Hochman, 1966;Stevenson & Weir, 1959;Viney, 1964).…”

“…The apparatus was a modified, drawer-type WGTA with dimensions identical to those employed by Vaughter & Cross (1965). The two objects utilized throughout the experiment were multidimensional or "junk" objects with identical wooden bases.…”

Analysis of discrimination reversal learning in children

“…Finally, although the number of discrimination reversals made was a function of the amount of PRT, overlearning had no effect upon correct choices in discrimination reversal, and this finding is not unique (Vaughter & Cross, 1965). This finding is inconsistent with data presented by Cross & Tyer (1966) in which the Overlearning Reversal Effect was observed in the performance of young children solving a position discrimination problem.…”

“…However, when Vaughter & Cross (1965) employed the prereversal discrimination procedure with five-year-old children, the Moss-Harlow effect was not observed. These children showed the greatest reversal learning following either training with both the Pos and Neg stimuli or with the Pos stimulus alone.…”

“…Both older and younger children were tested in order that an immediate comparison could be made; however, it was hypothesized that the older children's performance would replicate the findings of Vaughter & Cross (1965). In addition, the study was designed to investigate the effects of the amount of single-object prereversal training (PRT) and the amount of overlearning in the discrimination training upon discrimination reversal performance.…”