Conditional relations among functional classes stimuli

Abstract

The present research investigated the differences between functional relations and equi-valence relations considering lhe procedures related to these processes: conditional discriminations, simple discriminations and successive reversais. Two experiments were conducted. A PCAT - 286, a mouse and an apropriate software were used. Three undergraduated students were subjects on each experiment. On experiment 1, three pairs oi stimuli were used to establish two functional classes through simple discrimination training. Then, two new stimuli were introduced ín each class through conditional discriminations and the conditional relations among members of each class were tested.

Finnaly, it was verified if the new stimuli became or not members oi the classes. On experiment II, two functional classes were established through simple discrimination with successive reversais, The subsequent procedure was the sarne as in the first experiment. The data showed that subjects exposed to experiment I procedure were not able to demonstrate equivalence relations am_ong functional classes stimuli, while the subjects exposed to experiment II procedure presented positive results on equivalence tests. Based on these results, we may conclude: a) the discrimination reversai procedure facilitates the emergence of equivalence relations; b) the absence of reversal procedure in simple discrimination training does not guarantee the emergence oi equivalence relations.