On the validity of applying associative learning model to the acquisition process of human contingency judgment

The assessment process of contingency between two binary events was examine d in the present experiments using university students. Some researchers ha ve obtained a learning curve in judging contingency and have thereby applie d an associative model to an explanation of human contingency judgment. Oth er researchers, however, claimed that the task structure did not adequately reflect the structure of 2 x 2 contingency tables and failed to obtain lea rning curves. After having resolved methodological problems of task structu re and procedure (Experiments 1 &: 2), we demonstrated little evidence of l earning curve in judging contingency (Experiment 3). These results were dis cussed in terms of associative viewpoints and rule-based models.