High Probability of Equivalence Class Formation with Both Sample-S+ and Sample-S- Controlling Relations in Baseline

Exploring a Training IRAP as a single participant context for analyzing reversed derived relations and persistent rule-following

Rule-governed behavior and derived stimulus relations have always shared strong conceptual links within behavior analysis. However, experimental analysis linking the two domains remains limited. The current study consisted of three experiments that aimed to continue to bridge this experimental gap. The first experiment sought to establish the extent to which a training version of the implicit relational assessment procedure (IRAP) could be used to establish and successfully reverse experimentally established derived relations. The results suggested that the Training IRAP could successfully produce derived reversals. Experiments 2 and 3 explored the extent to which reversed derived relations would control rule-governed behavior when the contingencies for rule-following competed with the rule. In Experiment 2, the task contingencies were immediately in opposition to the (reversed) derived rule, and participants generally responded in accordance with the task contingencies, rather than the rule. In Experiment 3, the task contingencies were initially rule-consistent before a contingency reversal that later made them rule-inconsistent. Here evidence of rule-persistence emerged. The results of the research are considered within the context of a recent framework that has emerged out of RFT for analyzing the dynamics involved in derived relational responding.

Effect of observing response requirements to sample and comparison stimuli on the establishment of reject control (sample/S- relations)

The establishment of sample/S- relations (or reject control) during conditional discrimination training (AB, BC) affects transitivity (AC), equivalence (CA) and reflexivity (AA, BB, CC) test outcomes. The present study parametrically evaluated the effects of different observing patterns to comparison stimuli on the establishment of reject control during baseline conditional relation training. A matching-to-sample with observing requirements (MTS-OR) procedure was implemented during AB and BC conditional discrimination training. During training, the participants were required to observe the sample and incorrect comparison on every trial before responding. In addition, the participants were divided into three groups that differed regarding the percentage of training trials on which they were prevented from observing the correct comparison stimuli: 25%, 50%, and 75%. Once the mastery criteria were achieved during training, transitivity (AC), symmetry (BA, CB), equivalence (CA), and reflexivity (AA, BB, CC) tests were conducted with all comparison stimuli visible from the beginning. The results suggest that the number of errors during transitivity, equivalence, and reflexivity tests progressively increased as participants were prevented from observing the correct comparison on a greater number of trials during training. Symmetry test results, however, were not affected by the experimental manipulation. Moreover, the number of participants showing reject-control patterns during tests slightly increased and the number of participants showing select-control patterns decreased as a function of the number of trials on which the participants were prevented from observing the correct comparison. Thus, we suggest that observing patterns during training is a relevant variable that affects equivalence test outcomes.

Efeito da Formação de Classes de Estímulos Equivalentes e de Procedimentos de Facilitação na Emergência de Analogia

Resumo Buscou-se verificar os efeitos da formação de classes de estímulos equivalentes e de dois procedimentos de facilitação na emergência de respostas de analogia, comparando os resultados obtidos nos testes de analogia de acordo com o procedimento de facilitação e com o fornecimento de instrução. Participaram 30 universitários. Foram ensinadas as relações AB e AC entre figuras abstratas e testadas as relações de simetria, transitividade e analogia. Os participantes que não apresentaram essas relações foram expostos aos procedimentos de facilitação. Doze participantes responderam por analogia antes do procedimento de facilitação, cinco de oito (62%), após Facilitação 1 e três de dez (33%), após Facilitação 2. Dos sete participantes expostos à instrução, seis responderam por analogia. A formação das classes não foi suficiente para a emergência das respostas de analogia e alguns participantes podem ter respondido ao Teste de Analogia sob controle de apenas alguns aspectos dos pares de estímulos.

Efeitos dos Controles por Seleção e por Rejeição sobre os Movimentos do Olhos

Resumo O presente estudo avaliou o efeito dos controles por seleção e por rejeição sobre a observação de S+ e S- em treinos de emparelhamento com o modelo. Quatro adultos foram expostos a treinos de discriminação condicional e testes de equivalência. Na condição de Linha de Base (LB), nenhuma relação de controle modelo/comparação específica foi favorecida; nas condições de Controle por Rejeição e Controle por Seleção, as relações modelo/S- e modelo/S+ foram favorecidas, respectivamente. Na condição LB, foi verificada uma maior observação do S+ em comparação ao S-. O estabelecimento do controle por rejeição tendeu a ser acompanhado por uma maior observação do S- e por escolhas baseadas na observação exclusiva do S-; no caso do controle por seleção, padrões similares foram verificados, porém para o S+. Foi concluído que o estabelecimento dos controles por seleção e por rejeição são acompanhados de mudanças na observação dos estímulos de comparação.

Transfer of baseline reject control to transitivity trials and its effect on equivalence class formation

This study explored the role of baseline reject control on transitivity responding. In Experiment 1, participants learned to respond to a baseline of arbitrary AB and AC conditional relations, and then they were exposed to transitivity-like BC and CB trials in which the correct comparison stimulus was replaced by a novel stimulus (D). Five of 10 participants selected stimulus D, but only 1 showed expansion of the baseline stimulus classes to include the D stimuli. In Experiment 2, the emergence of symmetry and transitivity from baseline relations was assessed before participants were exposed to the transitivity-like trials. Six of 8 participants who showed emergence of equivalence relations selected the D stimuli on transitivity-like trials and provided evidence that baseline classes expanded to include these stimuli. In Experiment 3, these 6 participants selected novel stimuli (E) in additional transitivity-like trials, and all showed that the E stimuli had become members of the previously established classes, which now comprised 5 members. A route for the emergence of transitivity by way of the transfer of baseline between-classes reject control is discussed.