The effect of delay on simultaneous and successive discrimination in children.

Abstract

Fifty-six third and fourth grade children were divided into 4 groups of 14 each. Group I was given a simultaneous discrimination; Group II a simultaneous discrimination under delay conditions; Group III a successive discrimination; Group IV a successive discrimination under delay conditions. The principal findings were: (1) the simultaneous discrimination was easier under both conditions; (2) although delay did make both discriminations more difficult, the difference between the delay and nondelay groups was not significant, and the effect of delay did not operate differentially in the simultaneous and successive problems.