Stimulus Control part 1 Flashcards
Stimulus Control occurs when
- the rate, latency, duration, or amplitude of a response is altered
(in the presence of an antecedent stimulus)
Stimulus Control is acquired when
- responses are reinforced only in the presence of a specific stimulus (SD)
(not in the presence of other stimuli (S delta) )
Stimulus Control and Motivating Operations…
- both events occur before the behavior of interest
- both events have evocative functions
(similarities)
Stimulus Generalization
occurs when stimuli that share similar physical characteristics with the controlling stimulus evoke the same behavior as the controlling stimulus
Stimulus Discrimination
occurs when new stimuli that are similar to the controlling stimulus do not evoke the same response as the controlling stimulus
Stimulus Discrimination Training
- requires one behavior
- two antecedent stimulus conditions (SD and S delta)
Types of Stimulus Control
- feature stimulus class
- arbitrary stimulus class
Feature Stimulus Class
- stimuli share common physical forms
- stimuli share common relative relationship
- developed through stimulus generalization
Arbitrary Stimulus Class
- do not share common stimuli features
- limited number of stimuli
- developed using stimulus equivalence
Stimulus Equivalence
the emergence of accurate responding to untrained and nonreinforced stimulus-stimulus relations following reinforcement of responses to some stimulus- stimulus relations
(useful for teaching complex verbal relations- reading, language arts, mathematics)
Testing for Stimulus Equivalence
must have a positive demonstration on 3 different behavioral tests that represent the following mathematical statement
(if A=B and B=C then A=C)
Reflexivity
occurs when in the absence of training and reinforcement, a participant selects a stimulus that is matched to itself (A=A)
(tests for stimulus equivalence)
Symmetry
occurs with reversibility of the sample stimulus and the comparison stimulus (if A=B then B=A)
(tests for stimulus equivalence)
Transivity
requires demonstration of three untrained stimulus-stimulus sequences (A=B relation –> B=C relation –> A=C relation)
(tests for stimulus equivalence)
Factors Affecting Stimulus Control
- consistent use of reinforcers contingent upon correct responding in the presence of the SD is critical
Also important:
- pre-attending
- stimulus salience
- masking and overshadowing
Pre-attending
a prerequisite skill for stimulus control
- these may need to be taught before stimulus control procedures are implemented
Stimulus Salience
- prominence of the stimulus in the environment
- increased saliency facilitates efficiency of instruction
Using Prompts
Supplementary antecedent stimuli used to occasion a correct response in the presence of an SD(will eventually control behavior)
Prompts (least-to-most)
- verbal
- modeling
- physical
Prompts (most-to-least)
- physical
- modeling
- verbal
- natural
Stimulus Prompts
- movement cues (pointing, tapping, touching)
- position cues (place one stimulus closer to the learner)
- redundance (stimulus or response dimensions are paired with correct choice)
Transfer of Stimulus Control
- prompts should be used only during acquisition
- transfer stimulus control from prompt to naturally-existing stimuli quickly using fading
Time Delay
varying the time interval between presentation of a natural stimulus and the presentation of a response prompt
- constant ( fixed delay)
- progressive (gradually increase delay according to some rule)
Stimulus Fading
highlighting a physical dimension of a stimulus and then gradually fading that exaggerated dimension
- superimposing one stimulus on top of another and gradually fading it out
Stimulus Shape Transformations
use of initial stimulus shape that will prompt a correct response
(shape is gradually changed to form the natural stimulus while maintaining correct responding)
