Staats Chapter 9: Social Conditioning of Vocalizations in the Infant

Question 1

Overview

Answer 1

Experimenters conditioned vocalizations using reinforcement in an operant paradigm

Vocalizations increase with application of reinforcement, and decreased during extinction

R : vocalization
S + : Experimenter smile; “tsk” sound; touch baby’s abdomen

Question 2

Purpose

Answer 2

Condition vocalization in infants

I.e., if following vocalization with reinforcement increases vocalizations, conditioning has occurred

Question 3

Method

Answer 3

Baseline – experimenter leans over crib looks at infant with expressionless face

Conditioning – experimenter leans over crib, looks at infant with expressionless face until subject vocalizes

*when S vocalizes, He makes immediate response, simultaneously smiling, making three tsk sounds, and lightly touching the baby’s abdomen

Extinction – same as baseline – expressionless face, no responding to vocalizations

Question 4

Results and Discussion

Answer 4

Condition occurred as vocalizations increased

There were significantly more vocalizations during conditioning them during baseline

Infants verbal behavior can be controlled experimentally

Infants’ speech can be modified by responses in the environment

The increase was due to conditioning/contingent reinforcement, and not just a natural increase in vocalizations