Complex reversal - nonreversal shifts and concept-learning theory.
Date
1970
Authors
Wilson, Allan
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Abstract
A complex stimulus situation was employed in a variation of the reversal-nonreversal paradigm. Adult hUJ11an subjects were given simple and complex forms of reversal and nonreversal shirts to perform on a four-dimensional, two relevant dimension problem. It was found that a simple reversal was more readily performed than a complex reversal, and that a complex nonreversal was more readily performed than a simple nonreversal. A replication, incorporating an evaluation of experimenter bias, verified the initial findings. Explanation of the results in terms of the Kendler & Kendler (1962) two-stage mediation theory and the Zeaman & House (1963) attention theory was shown to be impossible without modification to the theories.