Synonyms
Definition
Transposition is a form of relational learning in which a learned relational response (e.g., smaller) transfers to a novel pair of stimuli after a simultaneous stimulus discrimination training.
Introduction
The first transposition experiment has been designed by Wolfgang Köhler (1918/1938). In these experiments, chickens and chimpanzees were presented with a two-alternative simultaneous discrimination in which a response to a darker shade of gray was not reinforced and a response to a lighter shade of gray was reinforced (or vice versa). Once the original discrimination was learned, the subjects were given a choice between the original, light shade of gray and a novel, still lighter, shade of gray. Köhler proposed that learning to respond to a specific shade of gray (absolute responding) should result in a preference for the original gray shade; however, learning to respond to the relationship between the two shades (relational responding)...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Blough, D. (1975). Steady state data and a quantitative model of operant generalization and discrimination. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Animal Behavior Processes, 104(1), 3–21. https://doi.org/10.1037/0097-7403.1.1.3.
Brown, W. L., Overall, J. E., & Gentry, G. V. (1959). “Absolute” versus “relational” discrimination of intermediate size in the rhesus monkey. The American Journal of Psychology, 72, 593–596. https://doi.org/10.2307/1419505.
Derenne, A. (2006). Effects of S+ and S− separation on gradient shifts in humans. Journal of General Psychology, 133(2), 163–173. https://doi.org/10.3200/genp.133.2.163-173.
Gentry, G. V., Overall, J. E., & Brown, W. L. (1959). Transpositional responses of rhesus monkeys to stimulus-objects of intermediate size. The American Journal of Psychology, 72, 453–455. https://doi.org/10.2307/1420053.
Gerry, J. E. (1971). Peak shift on the tonal-frequency continuum: The effects of extinction and punishment. Psychonomic Science, 23(1-A), 33–34.
Gonzalez, R. C., Gentry, G. V., & Bitterman, M. E. (1954). Relational discrimination of intermediate size in the chimpanzee. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 47(5), 385–388. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0058811.
Hanson, H. M. (1959). Effects of discrimination training on stimulus generalization. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 58(5), 321–334. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0042606.
Honig, W. K. (1962). Prediction of preference, transposition, transposition-reversal from the generalization gradient. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 64(3), 239–248. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0048290.
Honig, W. K., & Urcuioli, P. (1981). The legacy of Guttman and Kalish (1956): 25 years of research on stimulus generalization. Journal of Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 36(3), 405–445. https://doi.org/10.1901/jeab.1981.36-405.
Johnson, R. C., & Zara, R. C. (1960). Relational learning in young children. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 53, 594–597. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0042545.
Köhler, W. (1938). Simple structural functions in the chimpanzee and in the chicken. In W. D. Ellis (Ed.), A source book of Gestalt psychology (pp. 217–227). London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. (Reprinted from: IN FILE).
Laverty, J. J., Werboff, J., & Frey, R. B. (1969). Solution of intermediate-size problem and discrimination transfer by rats. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 68(2, Pt.1), 262–267. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0027532.
Lazareva, O. F. (2012). Relational learning in a context of transposition: A review. Journal of Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 97(2), 231–248. https://doi.org/10.1901/jeab.2012.97-231.
Lazareva, O. F., Wasserman, E. A., & Young, M. E. (2005). Transposition in pigeons: Reassessing Spence (1937) with multiple discrimination training. Learning & Behavior, 33(1), 22–46.
Lazareva, O. F., Miner, M., Wasserman, E. A., & Young, M. E. (2008). Multiple-pair training enhances transposition in pigeons. Learning & Behavior, 36(3), 174–187. https://doi.org/10.3758/LB.36.3.174.
Lazareva, O. F., Young, M. E., & Wasserman, E. A. (2014). A three-component model of relational responding in the transposition paradigm. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Animal Behavior Processes, 40, 63–80. https://doi.org/10.1037/xan0000004. (Supplemental).
Marsh, G. (1967). Relational learning in the pigeon. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 64(3), 519–521. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0025210.
Migler, B., & Millenson, J. R. (1969). Analysis of response rates during stimulus generalization. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 12(1), 81–87. https://doi.org/10.1901/jeab.1969.12-81.
Reese, H. W. (1968). The perception of stimulus relation: Discrimination learning and transposition. New York/London: Academic Press.
Riley, D. A. (1968). Discrimination learning. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
Sherman, M., & Strunk, J. (1964). Transposition as a function of single versus double discrimination training. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 58, 449–450. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0039187.
Spence, K. W. (1937). The differential response in animals to stimuli varying within a single dimension. Psychological Review, 44(5), 430–444. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0062885.
Spigel, I. M. (1963). Running speed and intermediate brightness discrimination in the fresh water turtle (Chrysemys). Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 56(5), 924–928.
Terrace, H. S. (1966). Behavioral contrast and the peak shift: Effects of extended discrimination training. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 9(6), 613–617. https://doi.org/10.1901/jeab.1966.9-613.
Thomas, D. R., Mood, K., Morrison, S., & Wiertelak, E. (1991). Peak shift revisited: A test of alternative interpretations. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Animal Behavior Processes, 17(2), 130–140. https://doi.org/10.1037/0097-7403.17.2.130.
Zeiler, M. (1965). Solution of the intermediate size problem by pigeons. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 8(4), 263–268. https://doi.org/10.1901/jeab.1965.8-263.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Section Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature
About this entry
Cite this entry
Lazareva, O. (2018). Transposition. In: Vonk, J., Shackelford, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47829-6_1527-1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47829-6_1527-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-47829-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-47829-6
eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences