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Related Experiment Videos

Stimulus equivalence: testing Sidman's (2000) theory.

Sara Tepaeru Minster1, Max Jones, Douglas Elliffe

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Auckland, New Zealand. saraminster@gmail.com

Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
|June 17, 2006
PubMed
Summary
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Sidman's theory predicted common reinforcers would drop out of equivalence relations. However, experiments showed common reinforcers remained in all classes, challenging the theory and the utility of equivalence relations for describing derived stimulus relations.

Area of Science:

  • Behavioral Psychology
  • Learning Theory
  • Stimulus Equivalence

Background:

  • Sidman's theory posits that common reinforcers should not persist within distinct equivalence classes.
  • Previous research has not fully tested this prediction under specific reinforcement conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To test Sidman's prediction regarding the role of common reinforcers in equivalence relations.
  • To investigate the emergence of stimulus-reinforcer and interclass relations under varied reinforcement schedules.

Main Methods:

  • Four equivalence classes were established with class-specific and class-common reinforcers.
  • Experiment 1 assessed stimulus-reinforcer and reinforcer-stimulus relations.
  • Experiment 2 examined interclass matching relations based on the common reinforcer.

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Main Results:

  • Four out of six subjects showed reinforcer-based relations in all four classes, contradicting Sidman's prediction.
  • Five out of six subjects demonstrated interclass matching relations.
  • Derived relations emerged even when stimuli and reinforcers were simultaneously part of and not part of a single equivalence class.

Conclusions:

  • The findings are irreconcilable with Sidman's theory of equivalence relations.
  • The study questions the application of the equivalence relation in describing derived stimulus relations.
  • Common reinforcers appear to maintain their role across distinct equivalence classes.