Simple and conditional discrimination training programs are commonly presented in simultaneous discrimination arrangements, which include an array of two or more comparisons. Several descriptive studies have found that these arrangements may be associated with low levels of procedural integrity, which may also affect or even prevent learning. Automated systems may offer several advantages to human-implemented procedures, although computer- or tablet-based paradigms are rarely described in the skill acquisition literature. The current study used a modified version of Smith and Greer’s (2022) validation model to evaluate the technical adequacy of Testable, a web-based software program used to conduct behavioral and psychological experiments, when presenting simple and conditional discrimination tasks. The findings of the five-step model suggested that Testable successfully executed all experimenter-defined conditions and parameters. Moreover, the program reliably recorded response latency, correct responding, and response position. These findings are considered along with recent discussion regarding procedural integrity risk classifications in behavior analytic research.

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Control by compound antecedent stimuli in verbal behavior represents an understudied but promising area of research. To date, reference to compound verbal stimulus control has generally only included descriptions of convergent multiple control. A sizeable experimental literature exists on the topic of compound stimulus control, which differs from convergent multiple control in that the stimulus elements often do not have a prior conditioning history (i.e., do not separately strengthen any response). The current study attempted to bridge the experimental and verbal behavior literatures by including a two-component antecedent verbal stimulus during intraverbal training for which neither component currently served an evocative function. Subsequent analyses of stimulus control suggested overshadowing by temporal location in the compound verbal stimulus and lack of emergence of the divergent intraverbal relation across all sets. Additional research is needed on compound stimulus control and verbal behavior researchers may be poised to answer several questions relevant to the experimental and verbal behavior literatures on the topic.

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