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Investigating the generality of the delayed-prompt effect
M Oppenheimer1, R R Saunders, J E Spradlin
1Parsons Research Center, University of Kansas 67357.
Research in Developmental Disabilities
|November 1, 1993
Summary
Replicating Touchette's (1971) experiment yielded variable results. Some participants failed to learn the discrimination or responded erroneously to prompts, suggesting prompt procedures need careful consideration for educational applications.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Psychology
- Experimental Psychology
Background:
- Touchette's (1971) experiment established a method for studying stimulus control using prompts.
- Prompting is widely applied in education and training, often with success.
Purpose of the Study:
- To replicate Touchette's (1971) experiment on stimulus control.
- To investigate variability in participant responses to prompt procedures.
- To compare replication findings with original results and common educational applications.
Main Methods:
- Two experiments were conducted to replicate Touchette's (1971) procedures.
- Participants were assessed on learning a Horizontal E discrimination task.
- Response patterns to a red prompt stimulus were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Results showed greater variability compared to Touchette's (1971) findings.
- Four participants learned the discrimination error-free.
- Ten participants responded erroneously to the prompt; twelve failed to respond to the prompt, with some having learned the discrimination and others not.
Conclusions:
- Variability in replication suggests prompt procedures may be sensitive to subtle experimental variations.
- The "permission to respond" phenomenon was observed in some participants who failed to preempt.
- Differences between replication, original findings, and successful educational applications highlight the need for careful procedural design.
