Semester

Fall

Date of Graduation

1998

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MA

College

Eberly College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Psychology

Committee Chair

Philip N. Chase

Committee Co-Chair

Kennon A. Lattal

Committee Member

Anne Watson

Abstract

The study compared the effectiveness three computerized training methods with respect to behavioral outcomes correlated with fluency. Subjects were trained to translate binary numbers into decimal numbers. Responses were made orally with the use of voice recognition software. One training method presented 50 stimuli on a computer monitor at a time (No ITIs). The other two methods (0s and 1.5s ITIs) presented stimuli separately on the monitor using discrete trials. Inter trial intervals were manipulated for the latter training methods. Results showed that all subjects achieved fluent performance on the training task. Subjects reached rate criterion faster and with less practice when No ITIs training was used as opposed to 0s or 1.5s ITIs training. Subjects trained with 0s and 1.5s ITIs, however, performed better than No ITIs subjects on tests immediately after rate training and also on tests of retention. Little differences were found between the training methods when tested on application and adduction tasks. No differences in test performance were found between the 0s and 1.5s ITIs despite considerable differences in rate of responding during training.

Download

Share

COinS