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The truth and value of theories of associative learning

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 April 2009

Tom Beckers
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, 1018 WB Amsterdam, The Netherlands. tom.beckers@uva.nlhttp://home.medewerker.uva.nl/t.r.j.beckers/b.vervliet@uva.nl
Bram Vervliet
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, 1018 WB Amsterdam, The Netherlands. tom.beckers@uva.nlhttp://home.medewerker.uva.nl/t.r.j.beckers/b.vervliet@uva.nl

Abstract

In this commentary, we assess the propositional approach to associative learning not only in terms of veridicality and falsifiability, but also in heuristic value. We remark that it has furthered our knowledge and understanding of human, as well as animal, associative learning. At the same time, we maintain that models developed from the association formation tradition continue to bear great heuristic value as well.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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