Do common elements predict class merger: A test of Sidman's theory of equivalence.
J Exp Anal Behav
; 115(1): 272-283, 2021 01.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33319371
The study presented here investigated the effect of common and uncommon elements on class merger as predicted by Sidman in his reconceptualization of stimulus equivalence suggesting that common elements among contingencies can facilitate emergent performances (1994, 1997, 2000). Eight adult participants were exposed to a procedure that arranged for stimulus-reinforcer correlations in Phase 1 and response-reinforcer correlations in Phase 2 of a 3-phase study. In the common element group, the visual images serving as reinforcers were the same in Phase 1 and Phase 2. In the uncommon elements group, the images serving as reinforcers were different in Phases 1 and 2. In Phase 3, participants were given an opportunity to respond but no feedback was programmed. The results showed that participants' responding was well differentiated in the common element group and undifferentiated in the uncommon elements group. These results are predicted by Sidman's revised formulation of the provenance and scope of equivalence relations. Specifically, these data support Sidman's (1994, 1997, 2000) suggestion that elements of a contingency enter into an equivalence class and common elements among contingencies are sufficient to produce class mergers. The findings highlight an emergent simple discrimination and raise some interesting considerations about the definition of equivalence under the new formulation.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Aprendizaje Discriminativo
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Adult
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Exp Anal Behav
Año:
2021
Tipo del documento:
Article
Pais de publicación:
Estados Unidos