OPERANT CONDITIONING OF A CLASS OF WORD ASSOCIATES.
Abstract
The 25 most common word associates to the word MUSIC were presented, one at a time, to a group of Ss, each MUSIC associate being paired with two control words. Ss were instructed to say aloud one of the words on each card. Experimental Ss were reinforced each time they emitted one of the word associates to MUSIC; none of the responses of control Ss were reinforced. The results indicated that the associates to the word MUSIC constitute a response class, i.e., reinforcing certain of these associates increases the probability of further associates occurring. A tentative S-R analysis of this phenomenon was suggested in terms of complex interassociations among these word associates. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1961
- Accession Number
- AD0681088
Entities
People
- Arthur W. Staats
- Carolyn K. Staats
- Karl A. Minke
Organizations
- Arizona State University