The effect of instructional set on hypotheses and behavior in concept formation

Charles W. Greenbaum*, Sam Rakover, Bernard Stein, Abram Minkowich

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

In an attempt to provide a direct test of a theory of verbal control of behavior in a card-sorting situation, 24 University freshmen were given either a maximizing or a nonmaximizing instructional set. For 70.56% of the hypotheses emitted a probability of success was calculated; other hypotheses could not be reliably classified. For reliably classified hypotheses, the prediction of behavior based on probability of success of the hypothesis yielded correlations ranging from .816 to .975. When all hypotheses, including unclassifiable ones, were considered, correlations ranged from .539 to .825. Predictions based on probability of success were more accurate than those derived from the Dulany-O'Connell (1963) prediction formula; this was ascribed in part to differences in type of hypothesis used by Ss in the present study. No evidence for "dissociation" between hypotheses and placements was found, thus supporting Dulany's position that behavior in a verbal-conditioning situation is under the S's verbal control.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)806-812
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior
Volume7
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1968

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