Abstract
Two principal issues were addressed in this experiment: (1) the effectiveness of simple contingent reinforcement in the induction of conservation concepts in previously nonconserving children; (2) the role of reversibility in conservation acquisition. Concerning (1), 20 nonconservers who were trained on liquid quantity conservation via contingent (verbal) reinforcement acquired a concept which was both superior to that of nontrained controls and statistically comparable to the naturally acquired concept. Concerning (2), the 20 Ss who received contingent reinforcement also tended to acquire reversibility explanations. Finally, it was found that one of Piaget’s two forms of reversibility (inversion) was more characteristic of the 20 reinforcement-trained conservers, while the other form of reversibility (reciprocity) was more characteristic of natural conservers.
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This research was supported by U.S. Public Health Service Grant 19, 226–01 to the author from the National Institute of Mental Health.
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Brainerd, C.J. Reinforcement and reversibility in quantity conservation acquisition. Psychon Sci 27, 114–116 (1972). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03328907
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03328907