Generalization of relational matching to sample in children: a direct replication

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Psychology
• Cognitive Development in Children

Background:

• Complex human behavior can be modeled using behavioral principles.
• Joint control, a concept by Lowenkron (1984), describes how multiple stimuli can control behavior.
• Relational matching to sample tasks are used to assess learning and generalization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To replicate Lowenkron's (1984) study on joint control in preschool children.
• To examine the role of a mediating stimulus in generalized relational matching to sample tasks.
• To investigate the influence of stimulus symmetry on generalization.

Main Methods:

• Preschool children were trained on a relational matching to sample task using a handheld mediating stimulus.
• Children were then tested for generalization of this skill, both with and without the mediating stimulus.
• Stimuli included both symmetrical and asymmetrical shapes.

Main Results:

• Children demonstrated high levels of generalized relational matching to sample when the mediating stimulus was present.
• Performance decreased significantly when the mediating stimulus was absent.
• Generalization was more robust with symmetrical shapes compared to asymmetrical ones.

Conclusions:

• The mediating stimulus plays a crucial role in enabling generalized relational matching to sample in young children.
• Findings support a radical behavioral interpretation of complex human behavior and joint control.
• Stimulus properties, like symmetry, can influence the extent of behavioral generalization.