dc.contributor.author |
Lee, Vicki Lorraine |
en |
dc.date.accessioned |
2007-08-18T09:49:12Z |
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dc.date.available |
2007-08-18T09:49:12Z |
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dc.date.issued |
1979 |
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dc.identifier |
THESIS 79-179 |
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dc.identifier.citation |
Thesis (PhD--Psychology)--University of Auckland, 1979 |
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dc.identifier.uri |
http://hdl.handle.net/2292/1466 |
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dc.description |
Full text is available to authenticated members of The University of Auckland only. |
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dc.description.abstract |
This thesis concerns a research problem that previous investigators described as the relation between productive language and receptive language. After reviewing previous studies, the introductory section of the thesis presents two arguments for rejecting this description of the problem. First, the terms productive language and receptive language have conceptual implications unwarranted in the experimental analysis of behaviour. The activities of interest are more accurately described as the behaviours of producing and discriminating speech. Second, previous investigators acknowledged only one problem, and yet their studies encompassed two problems. The first problem is whether training responses of either the verbal or nonverbal repertoire can instate new topographies in the other repertoire; the second problem, whether a contingency involving responses of one repertoire can modify the stimulus control of already-established topographies in the other repertoire. In terms of this distinction, previous investigators typically did not replicate their results within-subject. This thesis presents some experiments that extended previous studies by using designs capable in principle of providing within-subject replication of results.
Two preliminary studies demonstrated a method for training subjects to discriminate and produce spoken prepositional-phrases. In Experiment 1, two retarded subjects were trained to respond correctly to successive instructions containing these phrases. Training continued until the subjects responded correctly to the first presentations of successive instructions without requiring a demonstration of correct responses. In Experiment 2, the subjects were trained to produce the phrases. Subsequent experiments used the method demonstrated in Experiments 1 and 2 as the basis for investigating the relation between the behaviours of producing and discriminating prepositional phrases.
Experiments 3 and 4 determined whether praise and tokens contingent on responses of one repertoire would modify the stimulus control of already-established topographies in the other repertoire. Two retarded subjects participated. Praise and tokens contingent on verbal responses modified the stimulus control of both verbal and nonverbal responses, but praise and tokens contingent on nonverbal responses affected only nonverbal responses.
Experiments 5 and 6 determined whether training subjects to produce prepositions1 phrases would increase the number of correct nonverbal responses to instructions containing these phrases. Four 8-yr-old subjects participated in each experiment. Correct nonverbal responses increased in number only if the subject displayed the nonverbal topographies prior to verbal training. However, even then, correct nonverbal responses did not necessarily increase in number.
The discussion notes that available results support the following hypotheses. First, training responses of one repertoire cannot instate new topographies in the other repertoire. Second, praise and tokens contingent on responses of one repertoire may, but need not necessarily, modify the stimulus control of already-established topographies in the other repertoire. After noting the practical implications of these hypotheses, the discussion interprets results relating to the first hypothesis in terms of a common elements theory of transfer and, results relating to the second hypothesis in terms of the concept of the functional class. |
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dc.language.iso |
en |
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dc.publisher |
ResearchSpace@Auckland |
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dc.relation.ispartof |
PhD Thesis - University of Auckland |
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dc.relation.isreferencedby |
UoA9921857514002091 |
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dc.rights |
Items in ResearchSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated |
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dc.rights |
Restricted Item. Available to authenticated members of The University of Auckland. |
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dc.rights.uri |
https://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/docs/uoa-docs/rights.htm |
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dc.title |
Discrimination and production of speech in children: an experimental analysis |
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dc.type |
Thesis |
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thesis.degree.discipline |
Psychology |
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thesis.degree.grantor |
The University of Auckland |
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thesis.degree.level |
Doctoral |
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thesis.degree.name |
PhD |
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dc.rights.holder |
Copyright: The author |
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dc.identifier.wikidata |
Q112838884 |
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