The effect of dimensional training on the mode of response of kindergarten children to 2-dimensional stimulus materials was investigated by Kruskal-Shepard scaling and Procrustes rotation procedures. 22 kindergarten children were Ss. The stimuli consisted of 5 cardboard rectangles varying on 2 dimensions of colour and size. From the 5 stimuli, 10 triads were formed and presented to the Ss for similarity judgments. After training, the procedure was repeated. In the pre-training stage Ss did not dimensionalize fully while in the post-training stage difficulties of interpretation resulted owing to what appeared to be individual styles.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AttneaveF.Dimensions of similarity. American Journal of Psychology, 1950, 63, 516–556.
2.
Color swatch book. New York: Geller Artist Materials, 1962.
3.
KendlerH. H.KendlerT. S.Vertical and horizontal processes in problem solving. Psychological Review, 1962, 69, 1–16.
4.
KlahrD. A.Monte Carlo investigation of the statistical significance of Kruskal's nonmetric scaling procedure. Psychometrika, 1969, 34, 319–330.
5.
KruskalJ. B.Multidimensional scaling by optimizing goodness of fit to a nonmetric hypothesis. Psychometrika, 1964, 29, 1–27. (a).
LovejoyE. P.Attention in discrimination learning. San Francisco: Holden-Day, 1968.
8.
SchonemannP. H.CarrollP. M.Fitting one matrix to another under choice of a central dilation and a rigid motion. Psychometrika, 1970, 35, 245–255.
9.
TigheL. S.TigheT. J.Discrimination learning: Two views in historical perspective. Psychological Bulletin, 1966, 5, 353–370.
10.
TigheL. S.TigheT. J.WaterhouseM. D.VastaR.Dimensional preference and discrimination shift learning in children. Child Development, 1970, 41, 743–746.
11.
TigheT. J.TigheL. S.Perceptual learning in the discrimination process of children: An analysis of five variables in perceptual pretraining. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1968, 77, 125–234.
12.
WolffJ. L.Concept-shift and discrimination-reversal learning in humans. Psychological Bulletin, 1967, 68, 369–407.
13.
ZeamanD.HouseB. J.The role of attention in retardate discrimination learning. In EllisN. R. (Ed.), Handbook of mental deficiency. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1963. Pp. 159–223.
