Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 23, 2026

Modeling Verbal Behavior Deficits with the Stimulus Control Ratio Equation, SCoRE
Published on: May 14, 2019
Teaching mands by manipulating conditioned establishing operations.
Teaching verbal behaviors as tacts does not automatically lead to their use as mands. Direct mand training, using specific prompts and establishing operations, is necessary for reliable manding. This confirms the functional independence of mands and tacts.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Psychology
- Applied Behavior Analysis
- Verbal Behavior Analysis
Background:
- Skinner's theory posits functional independence of verbal operants.
- Limited empirical research exists on the nature and independence of these operants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if teaching verbal topographies as tacts results in their emission as mands.
- To examine the functional independence between tacts and mands.
Main Methods:
- Taught specific verbal topographies as tacts.
- Conducted direct mand training using imitative and tact prompts.
- Faded prompts to transfer stimulus control to conditioned establishing operations.
Main Results:
- Manding did not reliably occur after tact training alone.
- Reliable manding was observed only after direct mand training.
- Prompt fading successfully transferred stimulus control.
Conclusions:
- Mands and tacts are functionally independent.
- Manipulating conditioned establishing operations is valuable for effective mand training.
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