Dc. Williams et al., UNREINFORCED CONDITIONAL SELECTION WITHIN 3-CHOICE CONDITIONAL DISCRIMINATIONS, The Psychological record, 45(4), 1995, pp. 613-627
Five normally developing 7- to 12-year-old children were taught two, 3
-choice conditional discriminations [A-C (i.e., A(1)-C-1, A(2)-C-2, an
d A(3)-C-3) and B-C] and then given tests for equivalence (A-B and B-A
). This was repeated with two new conditional discriminations (D-F and
E-F). The tests showed the development of six, 3-member equivalence c
lasses. Subjects were then presented a new conditional discrimination
with the ''D'' stimuli as samples and the ''C'' stimuli as comparisons
without differential consequences. Three of the five subjects respond
ed conditionally, that is, they selected a different comparison stimul
us in the presence of each sample stimulus. Subsequent tests showed th
at the six stimulus classes merged into three classes. The fourth subj
ect responded inconsistently on the unreinforced D-C trials, but after
additional conditional discrimination training and subsequent testing
under a partial reinforcement baseline, she responded conditionally w
ith respect to two of the three sample stimuli. The fifth subject sele
cted the same ''C'' stimulus in the presence of all ''D'' stimuli. The
unreinforced conditional selection shown here appears to be one examp
le of generalized conditional responding. Other examples include learn
ing set and exclusion.