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A Mathematical Model for Conditioning

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2025

G. W. Boguslavsky
G. W. Boguslavsky*
Affiliation:
Cornell University
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Abstract

It is postulated that occurrence of a conditioned response depends on recurrence of one of a finite number of specific vigilance reactions. Number of trial on which a conditioned response occurs is shown to be a sufficient statistic for estimating the number of such vigilance reactions. The hypothesis is tested by noting whether numbers of trials on which conditioned responses occur fall within confidence intervals determined on the basis of a selected sufficient statistic. Applications of the model to psychological research are suggested.

Type
Original Paper
Information
Psychometrika , Volume 20 , Issue 2 , June 1955 , pp. 125 - 138
Copyright
Copyright © 1955 The Psychometric Society

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Footnotes

*

From a doctoral dissertation at Cornell University. The author wishes to acknowledge the invaluable advice and help of Professor H. S. Liddell, under whose direction this research was conducted. A special debt of gratitude is due to Dr. Jack Kiefer of the Cornell department of mathematics, whose skill and interest aided materially in the development of the mathematical portions of this paper.

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