Variables involved in confirming the consistency of a learned concept
Janet Seggie · Australian Journal of Psychology · 1970
The consistency of a learned concept may be established through the empirical utilization of the logical inverse. This involves a transformation of data. The condition under which this behaviour is manifested was studied under a factorial design in a concept learning study. It was found that the use of the inverse was related to the extent of the Ss' knowledge of the relationship between individual stimuli and classification. The greater the Ss' knowledge of these relationships the greater was the tendency to utilize the logical inverse. It was also found that if the Ss were not familiar with the general type of concept to be learned there was a significantly greater tendency to confirm the learned concept to be learned there was a signigicantly greater tendency to confirm the learned concept through the inverse. In addition there was a tendency for Ss learning a conditional concept to utilize the inverse to a greater degree when compared to Ss learning a conjunctive concept.