Differential Reinforcement in Simple Discrimination Learning in 10-to 20-Month-Old Toddlers

The present study examined two procedures for teaching simple discrimination to six toddlers aged 10- to 20-months. A pair of toys was displayed in the windows of an automated apparatus in each training session. Touching the S+ toy window allowed access to the toy and playing with it. Touching the S- toy window produced closure of both windows and the end of the trial. The two procedures varied in exposing the participants to differential reinforcement. In Procedure A, the first choice was always incorrect. In Procedure B, the first four trials were alternating forced choices of the S+ and S-. The participants were trained in 10 to 12 discrimination problems. Four toddlers learned four to six problems with both the procedures. The procedures reported in the present study may be applicable to teaching effectively discriminative repertoires to toddlers, older children, and adults with low verbal repertoires.