Lane, S. D., Clow, J. K., Innis, A., & Critchfield, T. S. (1998).
Generalization of cross modal stimulus equivalence classes: Operant processes as components in human category formation.
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior,
70, 267-279.
This study employed a
stimulus-class rating procedure to explore whether stimulus
equivalence and stimulus generalization can combine to promote the
formation of open-ended categories incorporating cross-modal
stimuli. A pretest of simple auditory discrimination indicated
that subjects (college students) could discriminate among a range
of tones used in the main study. Before beginning the main study,
10 subjects learned to use a rating procedure for categorizing
sets of stimuli as class consistent or class inconsistent. After
completing conditional discrimination training with new stimuli
(shapes and tones), the subjects demonstrated the formation of
cross-modal equivalence classes. Subsequently, the class-
inclusion rating procedure was reinstituted, this time with cross-
modal sets of stimuli drawn from the equivalence classes. On some
occasions, the tones of the equivalence classes were replaced by
novel tones. The probability that these novel sets would be rated
as class consistent was generally a function of the auditory
distance between the novel tone and the tone that was explicitly
included in the equivalence class. These data extend prior work on
generalization of equivalence classes, and support the role of
operant processes in human category formation.
Key words: stimulus equivalence, stimulus
generalization, categorization, rating procedure, computer mouse
click, college students