Stimulus Control and Generalization Flashcards
Stimulus control occurs when…
the rate, latency, duration of response is altered in the presence of an antecedent stimulus.
Stimulus control is acquired when…
Responses are reinforced in the presence of a specific stimulus (Sd) and not in the presence of other stimuli (S^).
Sd -> response -> Sr+
phone rings -> pick up phone -> conversation
S^ -> response -> S
doorbell -> pick up phone -> no conversation
A class of behaviour created through differential reinforcement with respect to stimulus properties.
Discriminated operant
Events that precede operants and set the occasion for the behaviour to occur.
Discriminative stimuli
Discrimination training
Two antecedent stimuli (Sd and S^).
Responses that occur in presence of Sd are reinforced, and responses that occur in presence of S^ are not.
Stimuli that share similar physical characteristics with the controlling stimulus evokes the same behaviour as the controlling stimulus.
Stimulus generalization
The spread of effects of reinforcement during one stimulus to another stimulus differing from the original along one or more physical dimensions.
Generalization
Little discrimination =
more generalization
Greater discrimination =
less generalization
Successive procedure
Sd and S^ alternate usually randomly
Simultaneous procedure
Sd and S^ presented at the same time
Matching-to-sample
select from two or more comparison stimuli.
3 elements of simple discrimination
Discriminative stimulus, response, and consequence
4 elements of conditional discrimination
Conditional stimuli, antecedent stimuli, responses, and consequences.
Arbitrary
Researcher decides the links between the stimuli
Non-arbitrary
Physical similarity controls the response.
Error-less discrimination training
Start with the Sd and gradually introduce S^
Stimulus generalization within a class of stimuli and stimulus discrimination between classes of stimuli
Concept formation
Pigeons tested with novel pictures of people and trees. Showed concept-formation
Herrnstein et al (1976)
Chickens and grey coloured squares
Kohler (1939)
Feature stimulus class
Share common physical forms, relative relationship and developed through stimulus generalization.
Arbitrary stimulus class
No common features, developed using stimulus equivalence.
A prerequisite skill for stimulus control. May need to be taught before stimulus control procedures are implemented.
Pre-attending skills
Prominence of the stimulus in the environment. Increases rate of acquisition.
Stimulus salience
Mask a response due to your previous history with that stimulus
Masking
One stimulus is more prominent than others and so is responded to.
Overshadowing
