Abstract
The emergence of symmetric matching to sample was studied in fourteen 2-year-old children. Three two-choice, arbitrary matching-to-sample tasks were arranged successively. Each task was followed by a test of symmetric responding. The behavior required by the tasks was taught with sample stimulus-control shaping (Zygmont, Lazar, Dube, & McIlvane, 1992). Five children did not learn identity matching, which is required for sample stimulus-control shaping. Two others showed a deterioration of baseline responding when the first test was given. The participation of these seven children was stopped. The others showed symmetric responding on all tests. These results demonstrate generalized symmetric matching to sample (one aspect of stimulus equivalence) in 2-year-old children.
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We thank the staff and caretakers of day-care centers Rupsje Nooitgenoeg, Leiden; Flap, Gouda; and ‘t Stampertje, Bodegraven, for their kind cooperation in this study. Also, we are indebted to Paul Smeets and Giulio Lancioni for their comments on previous versions of the manuscript.
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Boelens, H., Van Den Broek, M. & Van Klarenbosch, T. Symmetric Matching to Sample in 2-Year-Old Children. Psychol Rec 50, 293–304 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03395357
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03395357