title: Measuring learning using an untrained control group: comment on R. Reber and Perruchet.
abstract: R. Reber and Perruchet (this issue) argue that use of control groups without training is unsound for establishing that learning has occurred. We show that inferring learning from a difference between a trained group and an untrained control in no way relies on their implausible additivity assumption, and that untrained control groups can be an invaluable aid to the researcher.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, East Sussex, UK. dienes@biols.susx.ac.uk
authors.forename: Zoltán
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dienes
authors.forename: Gerry
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Altmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D035061:Control Groups; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D013663:Teaching / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*