Effects of discrimination training on stimulus generalization for human subjects.

Doll, Theodore J.; Thomas, David R.

doi:10.1037/h0025116

Journal of Experimental Psychology

1967

DOI: 10.1037/h0025116

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Effects of discrimination training on stimulus generalization for human subjects.

Theodore J. Doll

David R. Thomas²

Abstract: 3 groups of 15 human Ss each were given wavelength discrimination training to respond to the S+ (530 m/t) but not to S-(540 m/i, 550 rnfi, and 590 m/t, respectively). A 4th (control) group (n=15) received instructions to respond only to S+ but no discrimination training. All Ss were then tested for generalization to wavelengths on both sides of the S+. Relative to the control gradient, both the 540 m/j S-and 550 m/t S-groups showed displacement of the mode of responding from S+ in the direction opposite to S-.… Show more

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Cited by 39 publications

(52 citation statements)

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“…But Thomas (1974) has emphasized that the adaptation-level model may be the more appropriate one for understanding human discrimination learning. In support of Thomas' claim, two experiments with human subjects have found direct relationships between stimulus differences and amount of shift (Doll & Thomas, 1967;Thomas, Svinicki, & Vogt, 1973). However, Baron (1973), using comparable procedures, found that gradient displacements were inversely related to differences between the positive and negative stimuli on the auditory frequency dimension with human subjects.…”

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confidence: 84%

Human postdiscrimination gradients: The effects of three-stimulus discrimination training

Galizio

Baron

1979

Animal Learning & Behavior

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confidence: 84%

Human postdiscrimination gradients: The effects of three-stimulus discrimination training

Galizio

Baron

1979

Animal Learning & Behavior

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“…Moreover, the generality of the peak-shift effect has been extended to a variety of stimulus dimensions, including visual intensity (Ernst, Engberg, & Thomas, 1971), auditory intensity (Thomas & Setzer, 1972), line tilt (Bloomfield, 1967), floor tilt (Riccio, Urda, & Thomas, 1966), object size (Dougherty & Lewis, 1991), and even relative numerosity (Honig & Stewart, 1993). The effect has also been extended to various species including goldfish (Ames & Yarczower, 1965), rats and guinea pigs (Thomas & Setzer, 1972), chickens (Rudolph & Honig, 1972), horses (Dougherty & Lewis, 1991), and humans (Doll & Thomas, 1967). Thus, the peak-shift effect appears to be a reliable and general result of intradimensional discrimination training, although individual differences do exist, and some individuals fail to show the effect (see Honig & Urcuioli, 1981;Rilling, 1977;Purtle, 1973, for reviews).…”

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confidence: 99%

Spatial peak shift and generalization in pigeons.

Chen

Johnston

1997

Journal of Experimental Psychology: Animal Behavior Processes

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How pigeons generalize across spatial locations was examined in the 4 experiments reported in this article. During training, a square was presented at a fixed height at 1 of 2 horizontal locations on a monitor screen. One location (S +) signaled reward, whereas the other one (S -) signaled no reward. The birds were then tested occasionally with a range of locations. After training with S+ only, the generalization gradient peaked at S + and was approximately Gaussian in shape. After training with equal numbers of S + and S-trials, response rates were higher on the S + side of the distribution. This asymmetry diminished over testing. When the S + and S-were close together, the peak of responding was shifted on initial generalization tests. Generalization gradients along the orthogonal vertical dimension were approximately exponential in shape. This is the first demonstration of generalization and peak shift in the spatial domain.An important task for the experimental analysis of behavior has been to understand how stimuli present when behavior is reinforced to gain control over the behavior. Stimulus generalization--cesponding in a similar fashion despite changes in properties of a stimulus--and discriminationmresponding differently when a stimulus property is changed--are opposite ends of a continuum of stimulus control. Stimulus control typically is indexed by decremental stimulus generalization gradients, in which increasing changes in a stimulus value lead to increasing changes in responding.Guttman and Kalish (1956) conducted a now-classic study of stimulus generalization in pigeons. They reinforced pigeons on an intermittent schedule for pecking a key in the presence of a monochromatic light source. Different groups of pigeons were trained with different spectral stimuli. After a steady rate of responding emerged, the pigeons were tested in extinction with a range of spectral wavelengths on either side of, and including, the training value. Plots of responses as a function of spectral wavelength showed orderly generalization gradients, with the highest rate of responding at the Ken Cheng, School of Behavioural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia; Marcia L. Spetch and Michael Johnston, Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.This research was supported by grants from Macquade University and the Australian Research Council and a Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada research grant. Some of these data were collected as part of the thesis requirement for an honors bachelor of science degree in psychology by Michael Johnston.We thank D. Kelly and S. Reid for assistance in conducting the research.Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed either to Ken Cbeng, School of Behavioural Sciences, Macquade University, Sydney NSW 2109 Australia, or to Marcia L. Spetch, Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9. Electronic mail may be sent via Intemet either to kcbeng@bnnyip.bhs.mq.edu.au or to mspetch@psy...

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“…The extensive literature on this shift phenomenon in animals has been reviewed by Purtle (1973), and studies of peak shift in humans have been reviewed by Thomas (1974). In the first study with human subjects, Doll and Thomas (1967) used a monochromatic light of 530 nm as S+ and one of 550 nm as S-, with trial-by-trial feedback on correctness. Subse-quent generalization testing without feedback revealed a gradient that peaked at 520 run.…”

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Stimulus presentation frequency in brightness discrimination and generalization: A test of adaptation-level and signal-detection interpretations

Thomas

Windell

Williams

et al. 1985

Perception & Psychophysics

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In Experiment 1, brightness discriminations were established under conditions in which the stimulus to which "same" responses were required (S+) was presented more frequently than the stimulus to which "different" responses were made (S-), S+ and S-were presented equally often, or S-was more frequent than S+. Subsequent generalization gradients along the brightness dimension were shifted away from the stimulus value more frequently presented during training. In Experiment 2, brightness discriminations were established under conditions of equally frequent presentations of S+ and S-stimuli in training, but in subsequent generalization testing S+ and S-values were equally represented or overrepresented relative to presentations of other test stimuli. Generalization gradients shifted towards the overrepresented stimulus value, relative to gradients obtained for equal presentation-frequency conditions. The shift in gradients away from the more frequently presented stimulus during training in Experiment 1 was consistent with accounts of stimulus generalization based on both adaptation-level theory and signal-detection theory. The shift in gradients towards the more frequently presented stimulus during testing in Experiment 2, however, was consistent with adaptation-level theory, whereas the signaldetection account had predicted a shift in the opposite direction. These results attest to the importance of relative stimulus presentation frequency as a determinant of postdiscrimination stimulus generalization performance. Because feedback was given only during training, the opposite effects of presentation probability in training and testing may reflect an interaction between presentation probability and feedback.

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Effects of discrimination training on stimulus generalization for human subjects.

Cited by 39 publications

References 9 publications

Human postdiscrimination gradients: The effects of three-stimulus discrimination training

Human postdiscrimination gradients: The effects of three-stimulus discrimination training

Spatial peak shift and generalization in pigeons.

Stimulus presentation frequency in brightness discrimination and generalization: A test of adaptation-level and signal-detection interpretations

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