Serial Learning and Perceptual Recognition in Children: Training,Delay,and Order Effects 1

Abstract

After serial anticipation training on a series of pictures, Ss were tested for recognition of incomplete representations of these same pictures. The effects of number of serial anticipation training trials (5 or 20), delay between training and test (1 min., 1 day, or 2 days), and varying test order (same as training, different from training) were investigated. The larger number of training trials resulted in low immediate recognition and high delayed recognition scores, while 5 training trials resulted in no significant increment in recognition scores over time. Groups tested in an order different from the training order recognized fewer pictures than those Ss for whom the same order was used in training and testing. The results are discussed in terms of reactive inhibition and the need to modify present definitions of perceptual learning.