Influences of the partial reinforcement effect due to changes in visual stimuli at the onset of extinction were evaluated. Following blocking of the learned response, changes in stimuli in the apparatus reduced perseveration during extinction. The greatest effect was observed when a single stimulus change occurred. Redundant changes had progressively reduced influence.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BradleyJ. I.NagleW. A.SmithG. V.WelganP. R.Effect of partial reinforcement on the extinction of a blocked response. Psychological Reports, 1968, 23, 475–481.
2.
DeeseJ.The psychology of learning. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1958.
3.
GuttmanN.KalishH. I.Discriminability and stimulus generalization. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1956, 51, 79–88.
4.
HovlandC. I.The generalization of conditioned responses: I. The sensory generalization of conditioned responses with varying frequencies of tone. Journal of General Psychology, 1937, 17, 125–148.
5.
HumphreysL. G.Acquisition and extinction of verbal expectations in a situation analogous to conditioning. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1939, 25, 294–301. (a)
6.
HumphreysL. G.The effect of random alternation of reinforcement on the acquisition and extinction of conditioned eyelid reactions. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1939, 25, 141–158. (b)
7.
KirkR. E.Experimental design: Procedures for the behavioral sciences. Belmont, Calif.: Brooks/Cole, 1968.
8.
MowrerO. H.JonesH. M.Habit strength as a function of pattern of reinforcement. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1945, 35, 293–311.
9.
SkinnerB. F.The behavior of organisms. New York: Appleton, 1938.
10.
TylerD. W.WortzE. C.BittermanM. E.The effect of random and alternating partial reinforcement on resistance to extinction in the rat. American Journal of Psychology, 1953, 66, 57–65.
