Reports of Awareness in Verbal Operant Conditioning

Abstract

131 verbal operant conditioning studies were examined in an attempt to delineate variables related to the frequency of reported awareness. Reports of awareness were found to have been sought more often in studies of college Ss than non-college Ss, and in studies using objectively defined responses rather than subjectively defined responses However, learning without reported awareness occurred more often with non-college Ss and tended to occur somewhat more often with subjectively defined responses. Degree of learning did not vary with frequency of reported awareness. Directions are indicated for further research into conditions favorable to the occurrence of learning without awareness.