Effect of Intertrial Interval and Verbal Reinforcement on Choice of Front or Back Tongue Position

Abstract

Intertrial intervals of 2 sec. as compared with 4 sec. significantly increased choice of front-articulated vowels as compared with back-articulated vowels in 4 reinforced and 4 non-reinforced groups of 5 Ss each. Ss who were native English speakers showed a significant preference for front over back-articulated vowels. The hypothesis that shorter intertrial intervals would increase conditioning was not supported since no reinforcement effects were found. Discrimination between the two response classes of front and back-articulated vowels was demonstrated in the 4 2-sec. intertrial interval groups as compared with the 4 4-sec. intertrial interval groups. The preference for front over back-articulated vowels and increased preference for the front over back-articulated vowels due to shorter intertrial intervals was discussed in terms of stimulus choice due to prior learning of English.