An Ontogeny of Optional Shift Behavior

Between kindergarten and college age the probability that S will make an optional reversal shift (to the previously negative stimulus of the relevant dimension) increases with developmental level. Conversely, the probability that he will make an extradimensional shift (to the previously irrelevant d...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Child development 1970-03, Vol.41 (1), p.1-27
Main Authors: Kendler, Tracy S., Kendler, Howard H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Children
Discrimination learning
Grade 6
Intelligence quotient
Kindergarten education
Learning
Learning theory
Mental stimulation
Ontogeny
Sensory discrimination
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Summary:Between kindergarten and college age the probability that S will make an optional reversal shift (to the previously negative stimulus of the relevant dimension) increases with developmental level. Conversely, the probability that he will make an extradimensional shift (to the previously irrelevant dimension) or a nonselective shift declines with developmental level. This ontogeny was replicated on 3 sets of stimulus compounds composed of highly discriminable binary values on the color, form, or size dimension. An associated ontogeny of learning facility was also found which appeared due to a transition from an incremental to a hypothesis testing mode. The evidence was interpreted as consonant with the developmental mediation theory which assumes that the ontogenies reflect a transition from a singlestage, incremental learning process to a multistage process that includes symbolic representational responses.
ISSN:0009-3920
1467-8624
DOI:10.2307/1127386