Abstract
The effect of two different differential-reinforcement procedures on the relative frequency of responses in two subclasses of the same class of conditioned operant responses was investigated, as well as the role of the reinforced response subclass as a determinant of the effect of the procedures. Six groups of college students (60) were first conditioned to emit living-thing responses. Then four (experimental) groups were differentially-reinforced for mammal and non-mammal responses. One procedure consisted of reinforcement and nonreinforcement. The other consisted of reinforcement and punishment. Two (control) groups received either reinforcement or nonreinforcement after responses in both subclasses. The main conclusions were that: (a) response differentiation (RD) was obtained with both procedures; (b) the magnitude of RD was highly similar under the two procedures; and (c) the response subclass after which reinforcement was administered did not have a differential effect on the occurrence or the magnitude of RD under each procedure.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
CARPENTER, JANETH. 1959. Generalization in verbal conditioning. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Florida State University.
CICALA, F. A., & NOTTERMAN, J. M. 1959. The effect of force-proportional reinforcement upon response differentiation. J. exp. anal. Behav., 2, 266. (Abstract)
DRENNEN, W. T. 1963. Transfer of the effects of verbal conditioning. J. abnorm. soc. Psychol., 66, 619–622.
EDWARDS, A. L. 1960. Experimental design in psychological research. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
GREENSPOON, J. 1955. The reinforcing effect of two spoken sounds on the frequency of two responses. Amer. J. Psychol., 68, 409–416.
GREENSPOON, J. 1962. Verbal conditioning and clinical psychology. In A. J. Bachrach (Ed.), Experimental foundations of clinical psychology. New York: Basic Books, Pp. 510–553.
HULL, C. L. 1943. Principles of behavior. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts.
KELLER, F. S. & SCHOENFELD, W. N. 1950. Principles of psychology. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts.
KRASNER, L. 1958. Studies of the conditioning of verbal behavior. Psychol Bull., 55, 148–170.
LANE, H. 1964. Differential reinforcement of vocal duration. J. exp. anal. Behav., 7, 107–115.
MOLLIVER, M. E. 1963. Operant control over vocal behavior in the cat. J. exp. anal. Behav., 6, 197–202.
SALZINGER, K. 1959. Experimental manipulation of verbal behavior: a review. J. gen. Psychol., 61, 65–94.
SARASON, BARBARA R. 1956. The effects of verbally conditioned response classes on post-conditioning tasks. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Indiana University.
SIMKINS, L. 1961. Effectiveness of examiner treatment and type of reinforcer on the conditioning and generalization of hostile verb reinforcement. Amer. Psychologist, 16, 405. (Abstract)
SKINNER, B. F. 1938. The behavior of organisms, New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts.
TABER, J. I., HOMME, L. E., & CSANYI, A. P. 1961. The differentiation of human time estimations. J. exp. anal Behavior., 4, 299–304.
WALKER, HELEN M., & LEV, J. 1953. Statistical inference. New York: Holt.
WILLIAMS, JUANITA H. 1964. Conditioning of verbalization: a review. Psychol Bull., 62, 383–393.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This paper is based on a dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Ph.D. degree to Florida State University, 1962. Appreciation is expressed to Dr. Joel Greenspoon for critical comments in connection with the development of the research.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gersten, C.D. Response Differentiation of Verbal behavior. Psychol Rec 16, 161–172 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03393655
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03393655