The Effect of Cue-Criterion Function Form on Multiple-Cue Probability Learning
Charles A. Sheets, Monroe J. Miller · The American Journal of Psychology · 1974
The effects of positive linear, negative linear, U-shaped, and inverted U-shaped cue-criterion function forms on multiple-cue probability learning were evaluated, and the contribution to achievement of the subject's response consistency, detection of task linearity, and detection of task nonlinearity was explored. Linear relations were learned better than nonlinear relations, owing to more accurate detection of task linearity in linear conditions than detection of task nonlinearity in nonlinear conditions. Further, differential detection of task linearity between subjects in U-shaped and inverted U-shaped conditions suggested that subjects enter a task of multiple-cue probability learning with a positive linear set and thus search for linearity before beginning to detect the nonlinearity in the task. This investigation was concerned with the effect on multiple-cue probability learning of the form of the function relating cues to a task criterion. Several studies concerned with this problem have demonstrated that differences in function form affect achievement in learning. However, the relative contribution to that achievement of factors such as the response consistency of the subjects, the detection of task linearity, and the detection of task nonlinearity remains unclear. This investigation examined the effects of a variety of cue-criterion function forms and attempted to evaluate the contribution of the factors just named to observed differences in learning.