Abstract
Predictions of the Burke-Estes probabilistic discrimination model were verified in a situation in which reinforcement probabilities varied from.90 to.10 on alternate trials. Fifty college student Ss were able to discriminate between the stimulus traces of reinforcing events of preceding trials in a two-choice light guessing situation. The.90-.10 probabilistic alternation pattern was about three times more difficult to learn than a “pure” 1.00-.00 alternation pattern, based on estimates of the discrimination parameter from the data.
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The author gratefully acknowledges the helpful advice offered by Dr. Robert S. Witte of San Jose State College, and Mr. Charles Bebeau of the University of Colorado. The manuscript was prepared while the author was supported under Contract No. F44620-67-C-0099 between the University of Oregon and the Advanced Research Projects Agency of the Department of Defense.
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Buggie, S.E. Probabilistic discrimination learning of a sequential reinforcement pattern. Psychon Sci 15, 309–310 (1969). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03336314
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03336314