Three experiments with rat subjects examined resurgence of an extinguished instrumental response using the procedure introduced by Epstein (1983) with pigeons. There were three phases: (1) initial acquisition of pressing on a lever (L1) for pellet reward, (2) extinction of L1, and (3) a test session in which a second lever (L2) was inserted,…

In this article, we argue for a change in how researchers study motivation to learn. We believe that research can provide better explanations of the origins and outcomes of behavior, and thus be more useful, if we focus on how motivation develops and why it changes. We suggest reframing motivation research in education by extending the current…

Examines the relative effectiveness of either partial or total success training as a preventive agent against the debilitating effect of noncontingent reinforcement. (Author/RK)

Considers how to integrate theory, research, and practice in human performance technology. Discusses human learning; market pull versus knowledge push; using inquiry to connect theory, research, and practice; constructivist examples; behavioral and cognitive approaches; and differences in research methodologies. (Contains 13 references.) (LRW)

Considers the definition of learning as usefully applied to lower animals in instances of trained food-aversion behavior as a viable instance of associative learning. (SL)

The omission of the learning concept has resulted from a methodological approach which emphasizes what people have learned and not how they learned. A specific research strategy based upon operant learning theory principles as applied to the acquisition of verbal behavior is suggested. (Author)

Critical features of sound observational studies fall under three categories: the sampling framework; the theoretical model; and the statistical procedure. If the methodology for explanatory, rather than descriptive, observational studies can be applied within these categories, more consistent, convincing, useful explanations of educational…

This study investigates the strategies people use to acquire knowledge from maps. Among the questions examined were (1) what distinguishes poor learners from good learners, and (2) how do the learning strategies of map-using experts differ from those of nonexpert learners? Eight subjects participated in the study. Five were undergraduate students…

This study investigated the effect of singing within the elementary school music classroom on (1) students' preference for one of two performances of the same song and (2) students' ideas of "correct" performance. Seventy-five third and fourth graders were concurrently involved in separate experimental groups. One group was taught to sing…

THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS RESEARCH WAS TO EXTEND, ELABORATE, AND IMPROVE THE SET-FUNCTION LANGUAGE (SFL). THE SFL IS A NEW SCIENTIFIC LANGUAGE FOR FORMULATING RESEARCH QUESTIONS ON MEANINGFUL LEARNING, FRAMED IN TERMS OF THE MATHEMATICAL NOTIONS OF SETS AND FUNCTIONS. IN THE FIRST PAPER, THE SFL IS DESCRIBED. ITS RELATION TO THE STIMULUS RESPONSE…

This volume is part of the series prepared in connection with the Survey of the Behavioral and Social Sciences (BASS). This report is the result of the efforts of a panel of scholars in the field of psychology to give a general view of the state of psychological knowledge at the present. The first part of the work discusses the major sub-fields of…

SEVERAL EXPERIMENTS WITH RATS INVOLVING THE INFLUENCE OF CEREBRAL DESTRUCTION ON LEARNING ABILITY ARE DESCRIBED. THE TWO MAJOR EXPERIMENTS STUDY THE RETENTION OF THE MAZE HABIT AFTER CEREBRAL LESIONS AND THE INFLUENCE OF CEREBRAL LESIONS ON THE CAPACITY TO LEARN (INITIAL FORMATION OF HABITS). THEORECTICAL ANALYSIS OF THE LEARNING (BEHAVIOR)…