Comparison of two preference assessment procedures and the effect of before versus after preference assessment on children's discrimination learning
Using both incomplete and complete triads methods , dimensional preference (form or color) was assessed in 121 children (mean age 79.1 months) either before or after performance in a discrimination learning task to determine the effect which prior preference tests have upon the relations between dimensional preference and discrimination learning. The results indicated little support for the perceptual-differentiation hypothesis and some support for both the attentional hypothesis and the developmental-mediational hypothesis . The complete triads method was recommended as an improvement over the incomplete triads and opposed cues methods of preference assessment because the former allows E to determine Ss ability to function in his nonpreferred dimension.
Discrimination learning, Child psychology, Social and Behavioral Sciences
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