Abstract

GALVAO, Olavo F. et al. The role of naming in abstract conditional discrimination. Ciênc. cogn. [online]. 2007, vol.10, pp. 65-83. ISSN 1806-5821.

Abstract Vigotsky's double-stimulation method inspired this study of the effect of the presence or absence of category-name labels under chosen objects during the acquisition of abstract conditional discriminations by children. Forty elementary school students participated in Experiment 1. During Phase 1 they were asked to separate 13 blocks according to each of four properties and to name the separation criteria. They solved the task with prompting from the experimenter. Thirty-four participants passed to Phase 2. On each trial the experimenter separated one of 48 blocks of four different sizes and thicknesses to function as a sample. Then, choices of blocks matching the sample in size and thickness were reinforced. Participants were assigned to one of four Conditions: NNWQ: no-name, with questions after trials; NNNQ: no-name, without questions; WNWQ: labeled blocks (with name), with questions; WNNQ: labeled blocks, without questions. In Phase 3, four samples were separated simultaneously. Matching performances in Phases 2 and 3 were better in Conditions NN than WN and partial verbalization of relevant properties was observed. Few participants generalized matching to new objects (Phase 4). Experiment 2 replicated Experiment 1, but changing the experimenters in Conditions NN and WN, to rule out the possible role of experimenter's performance. Again, matching performance was faster and naming the properties was more accurate in NN conditions, showing a restricted stimulus control effect of name in WN Conditions. . © Ciências & Cognição 2007; Vol. 10: 65-83.

Keywords : naming; conditional discrimination; matching to sample; concept formation; children.

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