A Cognitive Theory of Learning: Research on Hypothesis Testing

Description

First published in 1975, A Cognitive Theory of Learning provides a history of hypothesis theory (H theory), along with the author’s research from the previous decade. The first part introduces the reader to contributions of some major learning theorists. It traces the history of H theory, reviewing the confrontation with conditioning theory, with the stress on the emergence of H theory which came to predominate. The second part describes the author’s work, presented as it emerged over time. It shows how the outcome of one experiment typically led to the next theoretical development or experiment. Originally part of The Experimental Psychology Series this reissue can now be read and enjoyed again in its historical context. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Original Title Page Original Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents Preface Part I: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Hypothesis Theory Chapter 1. The Beginning Reading No. 1: "Hypothesis versus Chance" in the Pre-Solution Period in Sensory Discrimination Learning Chapter 2. The Reaction Reading No. 2: An Experimental Test of the Continuity and Non-Continuity Theories of Discrimination Learning Chapter 3. The Transition: Conditioning Theory in the Fifties Reading No. 3: Application of a Statistical Model to Simple Discrimination Learning in Human Subjects Reading No. 4: A Theory of Discrimination Learning Chapter 4. The Transition: Foreshadowings in the Fifties Reading No. 5: Reception Strategies in Concept Attainment Reading No. 6: Learning, Development, and Thinking Reading No. 7: Analysis of Discrimination Learning by Monkeys Reading No. 8: A Model of Hypothesis Behavior in Discrimination Learning Set Chapter 5. The Renaissance: Mathematical Learning Theories in the Early Sixties Reading No. 9: Learning Theory and the New "Mental Chemistry Reading No. 10: The Selection of Strategies in Cue Learning Reading No. 11: Reversals prior to Solution in Concept Identification Part II: Visit to A Small Laboratory Chapter 6. The Analysis of Response Patterns by Human Adults Reading No. 12: Mediating Processes in Humans at the Outset of Discrimination Learning Reading No. 13: The Blank Trials Law: The Equivalence of Positive Reinforcement and Nonreinforcement Chapter 7. Probing for Hypotheses Reading No. 14: Hypothesis Behavior by Humans during Discrimination Learning Reading No. 15: The None-To-All Theorem of Human Discrimination Learning Chapter 8. Further Applications of Blank Trials Reading No. 16: Human Discrimination Learning: A Test of the Blank-Trials Assumption Reading No. 17: Human Discrimination Learning: The Subset Sampling Assumption Chapter 9. The Start of the Child Program Reading No. 18: Hypotheses, Strategies, and Stereotypes in Discrimination Learning Addendum to Chapter 9 Chapter 10. When S Fails to Learn Reading No. 19: The Presolution Paradox in Discrimination Learning Reading No. 20: Hypothesis Theory and Nonlearning Despite Ideal S-R-Reinforcement Contingencies Addendum to Chapter 10 Chapter 11. The Transfer Hypothesis Chapter 12. The Summing Up Epilogue Appendix References Subject Index