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No description available.

The prediction of Capaldi's sequential learning theory (i966, 1967, 1970) that resistance to extinction (Rn) increases as a function of the number of successive nonrewarded trials (N-length) conditioned to the instrumental response has recently been supported in a discrete-trials leverpress situation but not in a free-operant leverpress situation (Wolach & Ferraro, 1971). To investigate this discrepancy, 32 male albino rats were trained to leverpress in the presence of a visual sD under one of two N-length conditions (8 or 16) and one of four intertrial interval (ITI) conditions (5, 10, 15, or 30 sec.), the lowest of which corresponded to a freeoperant interresponse time. A subsequent extinction phase revealed that the 16 N-length group displayed greater Rn than the 8 N-length group at each ITI investigated on the dependent measures of extinction speed (p is less than .01) and trials to extinction criterion (p is less than .05). The results were interpreted as supporting the applicability of sequential theory to both discrete-trials and free-operant methodologies.

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No description available.

No description available.

A differential reinforcement procedure was investigated as a means for transferring stimulus control from physical guidance to verbal instructions in the training of instruction-following behavior.· An eight year old, severely retarded female was trained to respond to nonsense verbal prompts which, through training, had become discriminative stimuli for (a) "clap your hands", (b) "raise your hand", and (c) "tap the table". The use of differential reinforcement of singular and paired verbal/ physical prompt components increased the response rates to levels above the 80% criterion level. Training of these responses was accomplished across behaviors in a multiple baseline format.

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No description available.

Each of 32 neonatal White Leghorn chicks (Gallus gallus domesticus) experienced each of the four environmental situations and motoric and vocal behaviors were observed. The four environments were derived from a 2 X 2 (stimulus availability X temperature) factorial design. The levels of stimulus availability were either present (visible) or absent (not visible) while the two temperature levels were 32.5°C or 18°C. A factor analysis of the observed behaviors yielded six factors; three of which concerned motoric behaviors and three of which concerned vocalizations. A 2 X 2 (stimulus availability X temperature) within subjects analysis of variance for each factor was also performed. These results show that motoric behavior was largely affected by the availability of the imprinted stimulus. Results from the vocalization factors revealed one factor comprised of twitter calls, a second factor comprised of peep calls and a third factor comprised of calls that sonographically resembled an intermediate call. The analysis of variance on these factors revealed that the situational occurrence of the intermediate call factor resembled neither of the other two, more traditional, vocalization categories. / Master of Science