Robert L. Gossette

Comparisons of successive discrimination reversal performances among closely and remotely related avian species.

Summary The successive reversal performances of four different avian species, Bob White quail, White Leghorn chickens, Yellow Head parrots, and Red-billed Blue magpies, were studied across twenty-nine reversals of a spatial discrimination, in a form board box. One session of twenty trials was given each training day until a criterion of two or less errors per session was attained. All four groups showed appreciable decline in errors and session per problems, as well as initial errors. All four groups differed significantly in total numbers of errors and sessions across the twenty–nine reversals. Errors and sessions decreased progressively from the chickens, to the quail, to the parrots, with the lowest scores contributed by the magpie. The difference between parrot and magpie scores was less than that between the chicken and the quail. However, it appears that the successive reversal method can provide a system of behavioural calibration that is meaningfully correlated with taxonomic position.

Examination of Retention Decrement Explanation of Comparative Successive Discrimination Reversal Learning by Birds and Mammals

The role of successive discrimination reversal in comparative behavioral analysis is briefly summarized with attention to recent criticism of the retention-decrement hypothesis that attempts to account for improvement in performance on this task. Data from 7 mammalian and 10 avian species are presented in support of this criticism. Alternative hypotheses are proposed.

VARIATION IN MAGNITUDE OF NEGATIVE TRANSFER ON SUCCESSIVE DISCRIMINATION REVERSAL (SDR)TASKS ACROSS SPECIES

Attention is directed to the isolation of the dimensions of SDR methodology which make it sensitive to inter-species performance differences that have systematic taxonomical significance. Two dimensions in particular are indicated, inconstancy of reinforcement and the maximum opportunity for the generation of negative transfer. To determine if variation in magnitude of negative transfer is diagnostic of phyletic level, indices were studied across different phyletic levels of birds. More “primitive” birds developed greater magnitudes of negative transfer than more “advanced” birds. The relevance of these data to the retention decrement and the differential extinction hypotheses is examined.

The efficacy of rational emotive therapy in adults: clinical fact or psychometric artifact?

The efficacy of Rational-Emotive Therapy (RET) in reducing maladjustment, while insistently touted by its advocates, has not been unambiguously demonstrated in outcome research. Previous reviews have generally been quite partisan and subjective, and have not reflected available research. The object of the present review was to determine the extent to which RET significantly improved adjustment of adult subjects on different outcome measures in comparison with wait-list, placebo, and other treatment conditions. In 75 outcome reports, RET was effective in only about 25% of comparisons. Its main effect was to reduce scores of self-reported irrationality and dysphoria. Little change was noted in behavioral measures. The few comparisons favoring RET could be attributed to psychometric artifacts rather than to the reduction of irrational beliefs.

Efficacy of Rational Emotive Therapy (RET) with children: A critical re-appraisal

Proponents of rational-emotive therapy (RET) advocate its use within the school curriculum to forestall future maladjustment through the early detection and eradication of irrational beliefs. A review of 33 unpublished dissertations and four published reports found RET effective in about 25% of comparisons with wait-list, placebo, and other treatment conditions. The major effects of RET were changes in scores on self-report measures of irrational beliefs, less on emotional distress, and little or no change in behavior; essentially the same pattern of effects previously found in a similar analysis of RET in adult populations. Little justification was found for continued use of RET in schools.

Spatial SDR performances across three species of new world monkeys

To provide further information concerning the sensitivity of SDR methodology to performance differences of closely related species among the New World monkeys, the spatial SDR performances of Owl monkeys were measured and compared to those of Squirrel and Capuchin monkeys previously reported. The error scores of the Owls were more similar to those of Squirrel monkeys, than to the Capuchins, which provides some support for the view that the Squirrel is taxonomically more closely related to the Owl than to the Capuchin.

Successive Discrimination Reversal Measures as a Function of Variation of Motivational and Incentive Levels

The successive habit reversal performances of pigeons under two levels of drive and two levels of incentive magnitude were examined on a spatial task. While the fewest total errors and sessions per problem were produced by the high incentive group, the high drive group produced the greatest initial errors. However, significant asymptotic differences were found only for the incentive conditions.

An examination of the sensitivity of successive discrimination reversal (SDR) measures to differences in motivational level with squirrel monkeys

To determine the sensitivity of successive discrimination reversal (SDR) measures to differences in motivational level, performances of two groups of Squirrel monkeys on a spatial reversal were compared at 10% and 30% body weight reduction values. Greater error scores were made by the 30% group. As in previous work with pigeons, the locus of the motivational effect appeared to be increased resistance to extinction of the previously correct response.

Comparison of successive discrimination reversal (SDR) performances of seven mammalian species on a spatial task

The successive discrimination performances of four species of Procyonidae, one species of Mustelidae, and two species of Cebidae were compared. Capuchin monkey and Cacomistle differed significantly from each other and from the remaining species.

Role of motivational and incentive levels in the control of successive discrimination reversal (SDR) performance in comparative analysis.

A number of experiments with SDR methodology have yielded inter-species performance differences that are consistent with taxonomic rankings. However, one troublesome problem that plagues such comparisons is the question of whether or not such differences might be due to uncontrolled variation in either drive (D) or incentive (K) levels across species. As an initial step in the evaluation of the problem a series of experiments designed to study the effect of variation of both variables, within and across species, upon SDR measures are reviewed. While it is clear that both D and K do effect SDR measures, previously obtained inter-species performance differences are recovered when species are equated on these variables.