Abstract
The basic assumption of this paper is that the scalability properties of stimulus continua have functional applicability to the generalization and transfer of adjustive responses: a ratio scalable stimulus continuum, for example, lends itself to more efficient and precise extrapolation of behavior to new conditions than does a nominally ordered set of stimuli. The paper lists auxiliary assumptions necessary to translate this contention into quantitative estimates and derives the comparative performance estimates for the acquisition and retention of an S-R mapping under various scale relations. A final section assesses the assumptions from the standpoint of realism and susceptibility to experimental test.
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