HYPOTHESIS MEMORY IN CONCEPT LEARNING

A theory of concept learning which assumes that subjects use a wholist strategy and short-term memory in solving problems is proposed and tested. The subjects behave in accordance with the all-strategies-at-once strategy selection theory on trials on which they make a correct response but try to use short-term memory on error trials to avoid completely restarting the focusing process. The theory is tested by examining its ability to describe the way subjects restrict their choice of a hypothesis on blank trials after receiving a limited amount of information about problem solution. © 1969.