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The Effects of Competing Verbal Behavior on Performance in a Math Task
Michael J Harman1, Tiffany Kodak2, Leah Bohl3
1Briar Cliff University, Sioux City, IA USA.
The Analysis of Verbal Behavior
|August 16, 2021
Summary
This study found that vocal blocking, or talking while solving math problems, significantly impaired performance, especially without visual aids. This suggests verbal mediation is crucial for arithmetic problem-solving.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Behavioral Science
- Linguistics
Background:
- Verbal mediation plays a role in cognitive tasks.
- Understanding how vocal behavior impacts problem-solving is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of auditory distractors and vocal-blocking tasks on math performance.
- To analyze overt verbal operants during problem-solving.
Main Methods:
- College students solved arithmetic problems under different vocal conditions (talking aloud, reciting alphabet).
- An auditory distractor (alphabet) was introduced in one condition.
- Response accuracy, latency, and echoic/self-echoic response frequency were measured.
Main Results:
- The vocal-blocking task significantly hindered math task performance, particularly without visual stimuli.
- This performance decrease correlated with reduced echoic and self-echoic responses.
- Math problem-solving was significantly affected by the vocal-blocking task.
Conclusions:
- Verbal mediation appears necessary for effective arithmetic problem-solving.
- Disrupting verbal behavior can impair cognitive task performance.
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