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Classical conditioning of beginning reading responses
1Human Learning Laboratory, William Paterson College, Wayne, New Jersey 07470.
Perceptual and Motor Skills
|October 1, 1988
Summary
This study shows that young children can learn reading skills through classical conditioning. These learned reading responses were successfully acquired and remembered in a laboratory setting.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Behavioral Science
- Educational Psychology
Background:
- Classical conditioning is typically associated with autonomic responses.
- Learning acquisition curves for reading skills may differ from those of autonomic conditioning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the successful acquisition and retention of conditioned beginning reading responses (CCBRRs) in young children.
- To investigate the effectiveness of laboratory-controlled procedures for teaching reading skills.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a trace conditioning paradigm with anticipatory instructions.
- Employed higher-order classical conditioning over 10 trials per response.
- Involved 20 children with a mean age of 4 years.
Main Results:
- Children successfully acquired beginning reading responses in 95% of learning trials.
- Acquired responses were correctly recalled in 114 out of 222 retention test trials.
- Demonstrated successful acquisition and retention of CCBRRs.
Conclusions:
- Laboratory-controlled classical conditioning can effectively teach beginning reading skills to young children.
- Learning curves for conditioned reading responses differ from those in autonomic classical conditioning.
- Supports the concept of distinct learning mechanisms for different behavioral levels.