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Habit strength parameters in eyelid conditioning as a function of UCS intensity

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Summary

Previous studies which indicated that habit strength was a function of the intensity of the UCS in eyelid conditioning did not carry conditioning sufficiently far to determine whether the asymptote or the rate of growth parameter of habit strength was related to UCS intensity. The present study replicated a previously used procedure but extended the number of conditioning trials so that stable asymptotes would be reached. It was found that groups equated for drive level but receiving differential reinforcement conditions went to significantly different asymptotes. Since the rate of approach was apparently the same for both groups the results were interpreted as indicating that the asymptote but not the rate of approach parameter of habit strength is a function of UCS intensity in eyelid conditioning.

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References

  • SPENCE, K. W. Behavior theory and conditioning. New Haven: Yale Univer. Press, 1956.

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  • SPENCE, K. W., HAGGARD, D. F., and ROSS, L. E. UCS intensity and the associative (habit) strength of the eyelid CR. J exp. Psychol., 1958, 55, 404–111. (a)

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  • SPENCE, K. W., HAGGARD, D. F., and ROSS, L. E. Intrasubject conditioning as a function of the intensity of the unconditioned stimulus. Science, 1958, 128, 774–775. (b)

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  • SPENCE, K. W., and ROSS, L. E. A methodological study of the form and latency of eyelid responses in conditioning. J. exp. Psychol., in press.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. Leonard E. Ross

    Present address: University of Wisconsin, USA

  2. John J. Hunter

    Present address: Duke University, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State University of Iowa, USA

    Leonard E. Ross & John J. Hunter

Authors
  1. Leonard E. Ross
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  2. John J. Hunter
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Additional information

This study, carried out under the general direction of Professor K. W. Spence, is part of a project concerned with the influence of motivation on performance in learning under Contract N9 onr-93802, Project NR 154-107 between the State University of Iowa and the Office of Naval Research.

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Ross, L.E., Hunter, J.J. Habit strength parameters in eyelid conditioning as a function of UCS intensity. Psychol Rec 9, 103–107 (1959). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03393333

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03393333

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