Abstract
Delayed matching-to-sample (DMTS) training is generally found more effective than simultaneous matching-to-sample (SMTS) training in yielding equivalence class formation. In this study, we examined whether the same differential effects might result from use of these procedures to train reversals of conditional discriminations already providing the bases of equivalence classes. Specifically, we asked whether DMTS rather than SMTS training would more readily produce the reorganization of existing equivalence classes. Sixteen participants were first exposed to an SMTS procedure that established two 4-member equivalence classes, A1B1C1D1 and A2B2C2D2, consisting of arbitrary forms. Next, the contingencies that established the AD matching relations, A1D1 and A2D2, were reversed so that participants were trained to perform the new relations A1D2 and A2D1. Half of these participants continued in SMTS conditions and the other half were exposed to DMTS training. The results showed that the large majority of participants in both groups not only acquired the reversed conditional discriminations but also demonstrated on class reorganization tests that the class membership of the D1 and D2 stimuli shifted in the predicted directions. Both the DMTS and SMTS reversal training thus effectively reorganized the equivalence classes A1B1C1D1 and A2B2C2D2, producing instead the classes A1B1C1D2 and A2B2C2D1. A consistent, between-groups difference in the accuracy of responding on class reorganization tests was observed. Individuals in the SMTS group were the more accurate, many demonstrating class reorganization fully and immediately. The implications of these results are discussed in light of behavioral processes active during conditional discrimination training, including development of precurrent behavior.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aggio, N. M., Almeida, J. H., Cortez, M. D., & de Rose, J. C. (2015). O papel das emoções na aprendizagem do comportamento simbólico [The role of emotions in symbolic behavior learning]. Perspectivas em análise do comportamento, 5(1), 27–39.
Almeida, J. H., & de Rose, J. C. (2015). Changing the meaningfulness of abstract stimuli by the reorganization of equivalence classes: effects of delayed matching. The Psychological Record, 65(3), 451–461. doi:10.1007/s40732-015-0120-9.
Almeida, J. H., & Haydu, V. B. (2009). Reorganização de classes de estímulos equivalentes: análise do número de estímulos de comparação. [Reorganization of equivalence classes: analysis of the number of comparison stimuli]. Revista Brasileira de Análise do Comportamento, 5(2), 37–50.
Arntzen, E. (2006). Delayed matching to sample and stimulus equivalence: probability of responding in accord with equivalence as a function of different delays. The Psychological Record, 56, 135–167. doi:10.1007/s40732-014-0066-3.
Arntzen, E. (2012). Training and testing parameters in formation of stimulus equivalence: methodological issues. European Journal of Behavior Analysis, 13(1), 123–135. doi:10.1080/15021149.2012.11434412.
Arntzen, E., Galaen, T., & Halvorsen, L. (2007). Different retention intervals in delayed matching-to-sample: effects of responding in accord with equivalence. European Journal of Behavior Analysis, 8(2), 177–191. doi:10.1080/15021149.2007.11434281.
Bortoloti, R., & de Rose, J. C. (2009). Assessment of the relatedness of equivalent stimuli through a semantic differential. The Psychological Record, 59, 563–590.
Bortoloti, R., & de Rose, J. C. (2011). An “Orwellian” account of stimulus equivalence: are some stimuli “more equivalent” than others? European Journal of Behavior Analysis, 12(1), 121–134. doi:10.1080/15021149.2011.11434359.
Bortoloti, R., & de Rose, J. C. (2012). Equivalent stimuli are more strongly related after training with delayed matching than after simultaneous matching: a study using the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP). The Psychological Record, 62(1), 41–54.
Bortoloti, R., Pimentel, N., & de Rose, J. C. (2014). Electrophysiological investigation of the functional overlap between semantic and equivalence relations. Psychology & Neuroscience, 7(2), 183. doi:10.3922/j.psns.2014.015.
Bortoloti, R., Rodrigues, N., Cortez, M. D., Pimentel, N. S., & de Rose, J. C. (2013). Overtraining increases the strength of equivalence relations. Psychology and Neuroscience, 6(3), 357–364. doi:10.3922/j.psns.2013.3.13.
Cumming, W. W., & Berryman, R. (1965). The complex discriminated operant: Studies of matching-to-sample. In D. I. Mostofsky (Ed.), Stimulus generalization (pp. 284–330). Stanford, CA: Stanford University
de Rose, J. C. (2016). A importância dos respondentes e das relações simbólicas para uma análise comportamental da cultura. [The importance of respondents and symbolic relations for a behavioral analysis of culture]. Acta Comportamentalia, 24(2), 201–220.
Dube, W., & Hiris, J. (1996). Matching to sample program (Version 11.6). Software para pesquisa. Walthan: E. K. Shirver Center of Mental Retardation.
Dymond, S., & Roche, B. (2009). A contemporary behavior analysis of anxiety and avoidance. The Behavior Analyst, 32(1), 7–27.
Garotti, M., & de Rose, J. C. (2007). Reorganization of equivalence classes: evidence for contextual control by baseline reviews before probes. The Psychological Record, 57, 87–102.
Garotti, M., de Souza, D. G., de Rose, J. C., Molina, R. C., & Gil, M. S. A. (2000). Reorganization of equivalence classes after reversal of baseline relations. The Psychological Record, 40(1), 35–48.
Holth, P., & Arntzen, E. (1998). Stimulus familiarity and the delayed emergence of stimulus equivalence or consistent nonequivalence. The Psychological Record, 48(1), 81.
Huguenin, N. H., & Touchette, P. E. (1980). Visual attention in retarded adults: combining stimuli which control incompatible behavior. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 33(1), 77–86. doi:10.1901/jeab.1980.33-77.
McIlvane, W. J. & Dube, W. V. (1992). Stimulus control shaping and stimulus control topographies. The Behavior Analyst, 15, 89–94.
Mizael, T. M., de Almeida, J. H., Silveira, C. C., & de Rose, J. C. (2016). Changing racial bias by transfer of functions in equivalence classes. The Psychological Record. doi:10.1007/s40732-016-0185-0. Advance online publication.
Pilgrim, C., Chambers, L., & Galizio, M. (1995). Reversal of baseline relations and stimulus equivalence: II. Children. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 63(3), 239–254. doi:10.1901/jeab.1995.63-239.
Pilgrim, C., & Galizio, M. (1990). Relations between baseline contingencies and equivalence probe performances. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 54(3), 213–224. doi:10.1901/jeab.1990.54-213.
Pilgrim, C., & Galizio, M. (1995). Reversal of baseline relations and stimulus equivalence: I. Adults. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 63(3), 225–238. doi:10.1901/jeab.1995.63-225.
Ray, B. A. (1969). Selective attention: the effects of combining stimuli which control incompatible behavior. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 12(4), 539–550. doi:10.1901/jeab.1969.12-539.
Ray, B. A., & Sidman, M. (1970). Reinforcement schedules and stimulus control. In W. N. Schoenfeld (Ed.), The theory of reinforcement schedules (pp. 187–214). New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts.
Sidman, M. (1994). Equivalence relations and behavior: a research story. Boston: Authors Cooperative.
Sidman, M. (2000). Equivalence relations and the reinforcement contingency. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 74(1), 127–146. doi:10.1901/jeab.2000.74-127.
Sidman, M., & Tailby, W. (1982). Conditional discrimination vs. matching to sample: an expansion of the testing paradigm. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 37(1), 5–22. doi:10.1901/jeab.1982.37-5.
Sidman, M., Wynne, C. K., Maguire, R. W., & Barnes, T. (1989). Functional classes and equivalence relations. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 52(3), 261–274. doi:10.1901/jeab.1989.52-261.
Silveira, M. V., Aggio, N. M., Cortez, M. D., Bortoloti, R., Rico, V. V., & de Rose, J. C. (2015). Maintenance of equivalence classes and transfer of functions: the role of the nature of stimuli. The Psychological Record, 66(1), 65–74. doi:10.1007/s40732-015-0152-1.
Smeets, P. M., Barnes-Holmes, Y., Akpinar, D., & Barnes-Holmes, D. (2003). Reversal of equivalence relations. The Psychological Record, 53(1), 91–120.
Vaidya, M., & Smith, K. N. (2006). Delayed matching-to-sample training facilitates derived relational responding. Experimental Analysis of Human Behavior Bulletin, 24, 9–16.
Vaughan, W., Jr. (1988). Formation of equivalence sets in pigeons. Journal of Experimental Psychology, Animal Behavior Processes, 14(1), 36–42.
Wirth, O., & Chase, P. N. (2002). Stability of functional equivalence and stimulus equivalence: effects of baseline reversals. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 77(1), 29–47. doi:10.1901/jeab.2002.77-29.
Acknowledgments
The research reported in this manuscript was conducted by the first author as a requirement to obtain his undergraduate degree in psychology at Universidade Federal de São Carlos. The second author had a doctoral scholarship from the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP, Grant #2011/12847-2) and a special funding from the same institution (Bolsa de Estágio em Pesquisa no Exterior–BEPE, Grant #2015/08322-8). Harry Mackay is affiliated to the Commonwealth Medicine Group of UMMS. Julio de Rose has a Research Productivity Grant from the Brazilian National Research Council (CNPq). This research was part of the scientific program of the National Institute for Science and Technology on Behavior, Cognition, and Teaching (INCT ECCE), chaired by Deisy G. de Souza, and supported by Grants from CNPq (Grant #573972/2008-7) and FAPESP (Grant #2008/57705-8). We thank Deisy de Souza for support and encouragement of this research, and William V. Dube for thoughtful comments on an earlier version of this manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Ethics declarations
Funding
This research was funded by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) research scholarship awarded by the fourth author (Grant #573972/2008-7).
The second author had a doctoral scholarship from the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP, Grant #2011/12847-2). His internship at the New England Center for Children - Shriver Center was also funded by FAPESP (2015/08332-8). The fourth author has a Research Productivity Grant from the Brazilian National Research Council (CNPq). The first and third authors were not being funded by any governmental or private institution.
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.
Ethical Approval
All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.
Informed Consent
Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.
Additional information
An erratum to this article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40732-016-0205-0.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ribeiro, G.W., Silveira, M.V., Mackay, H.A. et al. The Effect of Conditional Discrimination Reversals with SMTS and DMTS on Reorganization of Equivalence Classes. Psychol Rec 66, 589–597 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40732-016-0194-z
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40732-016-0194-z