Stimulus Control & Discrimination Training Flashcards

A stimulus generalization gradient shows the relationship between stimuli along a dimension and response rate. What typically happens to response rate as stimuli become more dissimilar to the original SD?

Answer: Response rate decreases as stimuli become less similar to the SD

In a typical generalization gradient, response rate is highest to the original SD and decreases as test stimuli become increasingly dissimilar from it.

The peak shift effect refers to a phenomenon in which, after discrimination training, the peak of the generalization gradient:

Answer: Shifts away from the SΔ beyond the original SD

After discrimination training, the peak response rate shifts away from the SΔ to a stimulus that is even more different from the SΔ than the SD was.

A conditional discrimination requires that the learner:

Answer: Choose among comparison stimuli based on the relationship to a sample stimulus

In a conditional discrimination (e.g., match-to-sample), the 'correct' comparison stimulus depends on the sample presented — the relationship between sample and comparison controls selection.

Which concept describes the phenomenon where a stimulus that was not present during conditioning can block the development of stimulus control by a second stimulus?

Answer: Blocking

Blocking occurs when prior conditioning to one stimulus prevents a second stimulus (presented alongside the first) from gaining stimulus control.

A student with autism responds correctly to the teacher's question only when the teacher is wearing a red shirt, not any other shirt. This is an example of:

Answer: Overselective stimulus control

Overselective stimulus control (tunnel vision) occurs when responding comes under control of a narrow, often irrelevant, feature of a compound stimulus.

Transfer of stimulus control refers to a process in which:

Answer: Control over behavior is shifted from a prompt to the natural discriminative stimulus

Transfer of stimulus control procedures (e.g., prompt fading, time delay) systematically shift responding from a prompt to the target SD.

In a match-to-sample (MTS) procedure, identity matching differs from arbitrary matching in that:

Answer: Identity matching requires selecting a comparison that is physically identical to the sample

In identity MTS, the correct comparison stimulus is physically identical to the sample; arbitrary MTS requires selecting a comparison based on a trained — not perceptual — relationship.