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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Effects of orientation and differential reinforcement on transitive stimulus control

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Author(s):
Amd, Micah [1, 2] ; de Almeida, Joao H. [1] ; de Rose, Julio C. [1] ; Silveira, Carolina C. [1] ; Pompermaier, Henrique M. [3]
Total Authors: 5
Affiliation:
[1] McGill Univ, Dept Neurol, Montreal Neurol Inst, Montreal, PQ - Canada
[2] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Dept Psychol, Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil
[3] Univ Fed Rio Grande do Norte, Dept Psychol, Natal, RN - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 3
Document type: Journal article
Source: Behavioural Processes; v. 144, p. 58-65, NOV 2017.
Web of Science Citations: 3
Abstract

The emergence of transitive relations between stimuli that had never appeared together is a key process underlying concept formation. An unresolved theoretical issue with respect to transitive relations has been to determine whether differential reinforcement of stimulus-stimulus (S-S) relations though matching-to-sample, or contiguous S-S correlations/pairings, is more critical for producing transitivity. The current study inquired whether simple environmental S-S pairings, versus differential reinforcement of S-S relations, versus environmental S-S pairings with an orientation requirement, produced the greatest instances of transitivity. 12 groups of participants were parsed into one of four procedures (matching-to-sample, stimulus-paring, stimulus-pairing-w/response, stimulus-pairing-w/orientation) along one of three training structures (linear, many-to-one, one-to many). All participants underwent a fixed number of training trials for establishing three, three-member stimulus sets (A1B1C1, A2B2C2, A3B3C3), followed by a single sorting test for AC transitivity. Our results demonstrate orienting towards environmental S-S pairings yield the greatest degree of transitivity. The effectivity of pairing procedures for establishing transitive relations, particularly when compared to matching-to-sample, can inform the development of educational interventions for individuals for whom the latter procedure (involving differential reinforcement) is ineffective. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 15/24159-4 - Effects of delay on the decay of conditioned and derived valence functions
Grantee:Micah Ahmad
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral