The Effects of Test Order and Nodal Distance on the Emergence and Stability of Derived Discriminative Stimulus Functions

Abstract

The present study examined the effects of equivalence test order and nodal distance on the emergence and stability of derived discriminative stimulus functions. Participants in 1 group were exposed to a transfer of functions test foillowing a symmetry and equivalence test, another group of participants completed a symmetry and equivalence test following a transfer test, and a final group of participants received a symmetry test only if they failed to demonstrate immediate transfer, after which time they were retested. At least 1 month following their initial laboratory experience, all participants who had demonstrated the transfer of functions were contacted and asked to return to the laboratory for a follow-up transfer test. Results showed that a prior equivalence test was not necessary for the transfer of functions, although a symmetry test may have facilitated transfer for some participants. A nodal distance effect for the stability of the derived stimulus functions was observed during the follow-up transfer test.Research on derived stimulus relations has consistently shown that when people are exposed to a series of interrelated conditional discriminations, the stimuli can become related to each other in indirect and often complex ways . The main finding is as follows: Suppose, for instance, reinforcement is delivered for selection of stimulus B in the presence of stimulus A, and for selection of stimulus C in the presence of stimulus B, respectively. Most participants will now readily reverse these explicitly reinforced conditional discriminations in the absence of further training. That is, they will now select A given Band B given C in accordance with derived symmetrical, or mutually entailed, stimulus relations. Furthermore, participants will now also select C given A and A given C in accordance with derived transitive and equivalence, orWe thank Erik Arntzen and Lanny Fields for helpful suggestions on an earlier version. We also thank Kim Zlomke for assistance with subject running and Eamon Strain for statistical advice.

Derived Avoidance Learning: Transformation of Avoidance Response Functions in Accordance with Same and Opposite Relational Frames

“…indeed, future studies might further examine this robustness by testing for derived avoidance across a greater number of probe trials. the long-term stability or maintenance of derived transformation also warrants further attention (see rehfeldt & Dymond, 2005).…”

Reorganization of Equivalence Classes: Evidence for Contextual Control by Baseline Reviews Before Probes

“…During this time gap, participants did not have additional training or testing (e.g., Rehfeldt & Hayes, 2000;Saunders, Wachter, & Spradlin, 1988;Spradlin, Saunders, & Saunders, 1992;Wirth & Chase, 2002). Rehfeldt and Dymond (2005), however, reported that transfer of functions, a phenomenon related to stimulus equivalence, in the sense that functions acquired directly by one class-member transfer to other class-members, showed considerable less stability when retested after 1 month.…”

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

“…However, if transitivity is one of the properties defining the emergence of equivalence, and the route proposed here for the emergence of transitivity is accurate, then transfer of stimulus functions cannot be characterized as merely a consequence of the emergence of equivalence; rather, it must be present prior to and be involved in the emergence of equivalence. As evidence in support, Rehfeldt and Dymond () showed that transfer of functions may be present among stimuli related in baseline without explicit testing for the emergence of symmetry and transitivity; however, in that study, for those participants who failed to display transfer of functions, transfer appeared after testing for symmetry.…”