Abstract
The purpose of the study was to compare the sequence redundancy under conditions of randomization with the sequence redundancy under conditions of spontaneous activity. One group was instructed to randomize three alternative push-button responses, and the other group was asked to produce a spontaneous sequence of such responses. Both tasks were self-paced and performed twice. Redundancy up to the fourth order was computed. Completion times and information production rates were determined. Redundancy was significantly higher in the spontaneous activity condition. Information production rate analysis confirmed that there was a greater degree of nonrandomness in the spontaneous activity condition. The effect of test order on redundancy was explained in terms of the difference in completion times between randomization and spontaneous activity conditions. Redundancy was characterized as a possible measure of behavioral stereotypy.
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The FORTRAN IV program for redundancy scoring was prepared by Hewen Slak.
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Slak, S., Shaffer, J.I. & Barone, N.C. Sequence redundancy under conditions of randomization and spontaneous activity. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 19, 256–258 (1982). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03330249
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03330249