Date of Award
6-1988
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Dr. Galen Alessi
Second Advisor
Dr. Jack Michael
Third Advisor
Dr. Neil Kent
Fourth Advisor
Dr. Paul Wienir
Abstract
Stimulus overselectivity refers to a phenomenon in which, after discrimination training with a multiple component stimulus, behavior fails to come under the control of all of the components of the stimulus. After a screening process based on past research, a group of children with specific learning disabilities was categorized into one of two groups: overselective and non-overselective. Both groups were exposed to training and testing for generalization. All children in both groups evidenced "stimulus overselectivity" during these tests for generalization. Generalization training subsequently reduced stimulus overselectivity for all students. There were few differences between the two groups. The results suggest that the phenomenon is variable and may be more closely tied to the teaching and testing paradigm than to a characteristic of the organism. Suggestions for future research were discussed.
Access Setting
Dissertation-Open Access
Recommended Citation
McGlinchey, Margaret T., "Stimulus Overselectivity: An Investigation of Determinants" (1988). Dissertations. 2174.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations/2174
Included in
Developmental Psychology Commons, Disability and Equity in Education Commons, Educational Psychology Commons