The generalization of an instrumental response to stimuli varying in the size dimension.

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Abstract
One group of 60 white rats was trained to open a door in the center of a white circle 20 sq. cm. in area. Sub-groups of 15 were then tested by means of 25 extinction trials on circles of 20, 32, 50, and 79 sq. cm. A 2d group of 75 rats was trained to respond to the 79 sq. cm. circle and sub-groups were tested on circles of 79, 63, 50, 32 and 20 sq. cm. Functions were obtained showing generalization to stimuli both larger and smaller than the training stimulus. Both gradients showed a significant decrease in response strength as a function of increasing difference in size from the training stimulus. Response strength to smaller stimuli was a negatively accelerated decreasing function of log area. The function relating log area and response strength to larger stimuli was inflected, showing initial positive acceleration. The results are interpreted as supporting the validity of the concept of stimulus generalization as employed by such theorists as Hull and Spence. They lend further support to the use of the concept in the interpretation of visual size discrimination learning phenomena. The data are further interpreted as being in essential but not complete agreement with recent predictions made by Hull on the basis of a stimulus intensity factor.

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