Date of Award
12-1984
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Dr. R. Wayne Fuqua
Second Advisor
Dr. R. W. Malott
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Open Access
Abstract
Using a single-subject A-B-C-D design, this study examined NaCl and sucrose taste thresholds in water, tomato juice, and milk with four 4-year-old children. Taste thresholds were determined by presenting several concentrations of an adulterant (i.e. NaCl, sucrose) in each vehicle, in blocks of ten trials. Subjects evaluated each taste sample by pressing one of two levers (Yes/No response). Detection threshold was defined as the level at which there was 50% correct responding. During Baseline, subjects received no feedback regarding the accuracy of their response. During the differential reinforcement phase, subjects received reinforcement following each correct response. Results suggested that detection thresholds for the sdulterants in tomato juice were lowered following differential reinforcement of correct discrimination of the presence versus absence of a specified adulterant. Similar lowering of thresholds was not obtained for the same adulterants in water. The data also indicated that there was a generalization of training effect to a novel vehicle (milk). Lowered thresholds in tomato juice maintained or improved at follow-up.
Recommended Citation
Castine, Susan M., "The Effect of Discrimination Training on Salt and Sugar Taste Thresholds of Preschool Children" (1984). Masters Theses. 1478.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/1478