Dougher, M., Perkins, D. R., Greenway, D., Koons, A., & Chiasson, C. (2002).
Contextual control of equivalence-based transformation of functions.
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior,
78, 63-93.
The transformation of functions refers to the untrained
acquisition of stimulus functions among members of stimulus
equivalence classes or relational frames. Although it is widely
assumed that contextual control over the transformation of
functions must exist, this has not yet been conclusively
demonstrated in laboratory studies. Four experiments are reported
in which (a) stimulus equivalence classes were established, (b) a
conditional stimulus function was trained for one member of each
of the classes, and (c) multiple-exemplar procedures were used to
train and test for contextual control over the transformation of
the stimulus function within the classes and to assess whether it
generalized to new equivalence classes. Although a significant
amount of training was required, the procedures ultimately
resulted in the contextual control of function transformation for
9 of 10 participants and generalized contextual control for 4 of
5 participants.
Key words: _transformation of function, transfer of function,
contextual control, stimulus equivalence, humans