Derived asymmetric and transitive relations using the go/no-go procedure with compound stimuli

The purpose of the present study was to verify whether the go/no-go procedure with compound stimuli would establish derived asymmetric and transitive relations between stimuli under the control of contextual cues. In Experiment 1, nonarbitrary relational training and tests established red and blue background colors as the contextual cues. Subsequently, arbitrary relational training established relations between pairs of stimuli under the control of the contextual cues. Finally, tests evaluated the emergence of new relations under contextual control. All four participants, university students, met the learning criterion during training and demonstrated the derived relations that were tested. Experiment 2 replicated Experiment 1, without the nonarbitrary relational training and testing. All three participants also exhibited the derived performances. The effectiveness of the procedure for establishing derived relations, the implications of the necessity of nonarbitrary relational training, and the possibilities for application are discussed.