Shimizu, H. (2006).
Testing Response-stimulus equivalence relations using differential responses as a sample.
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 86, 239-251.
This study tested the notion that an equivalence relation may include a response when differential responses
are paired with stimuli presented during training. Eight normal adults learned three kinds of computer mouse
movements as differential response topographies (R1, R2, and R3). Next, in matching-to-sample training, one of
the response topographies was used to select a comparison stimulus B (B1, B2, or B3) conditionally upon
presentation of sample stimulus A (A1, A2, or A3), and to select stimulus D (D1, D2, or D3) conditionally upon
presentation of stimulus C (C1, C2, or C3). After two sample-comparison-response relations (ABR and CDR) were
established, 18 sample–comparison relations were tested (BA, DC, RA, RB, RC, RD, AC, CA, AD, DA, BC, CB, BD,
DB, AA, BB, CC, and DD). In the RA, RB, RC, and RD tests, the differential responses (R1, R2, and R3) were used
as sample stimuli. All subjects made class-consistent comparison selections in the tests. This study provides
evidence that responses may become members of an equivalence class.
Key words: response–stimulus relations, conditional discrimination, equivalence relation, differential responses, matching-to-sample, humans