Cited by 172Behavioral and Psychological StudiesAcademic and Historical Perspectives in PsychologyDecision-Making and Behavioral Economics

Arbitrarily applicable comparative relations: Experimental evidence for a relational operant

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Berens, Nicholas M., Hayes, Steven C.·2007·Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis

Abstract

Arbitrarily applicable derived relational responding has been argued by relational frame theorists to be a form of operant behavior. The present study examined this idea with 4 female participants, ages 4 to 5 years old, who could not perform a series of problem-solving tasks involving arbitrary more than and less than relations. In a combined multiple baseline (across responses and participants) and multiple probe design (with trained and untrained stimuli), it was shown that reinforced multiple-exemplar training facilitated the development of arbitrary comparative relations, and that these skills generalized not just across stimuli but also across trial types. The sequence of training identified potential prerequisites in the development of comparative relations (e.g., nonarbitrary comparative relations). Taken as a whole, the present data, along with previous work by others in this area, suggest that relating arbitrary events comparatively is an operant. The implications of this conclusion for the analysis of complex behavior are discussed.

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Research works printed but not linked: 5

  1. de Rose, J. C., de Souza, D. G., Rossito, A. L., & de Rose, T. M. S. (1992). Equivalence relations and reading. In S. C. Hayes, & L. J. Hayes (Eds.), Understanding verbal relations (pp.69-82). Reno, NV: Context Press.
  2. Matos, M. A., & d'Oliviera, M. M. H. (1992). Equivalence and reading. In S. C. Hayes, & L. J. Hayes (Eds.), Understanding verbal relations (pp. 83- 96). Reno, NV: Context Press.
  3. Peterson, R. F. (1968). Some experiments on the organization of a class of imitative behaviors. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1, 225-235.
  4. Peterson, R. F., & Whitehurst, G. J. (1971). A variable influencing the performance of generalized imit- ative behaviors. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 4, 1-9.
  5. Wulfert, E., & Hayes, S. C. (1988). The transfer of conditional sequencing through conditional equiva- lence classes. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 50, 125-144.

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Authors
Berens, N. M., & Hayes, S. C.
Affiliations
University of Nevada, Reno (US)
Corresponding author
Berens, Nicholas M.
Venue
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2007-03
Volume
40
Issue
1
Pages
45-71
ISSN
  • 0021-8855 (ISSN-L)
  • 1938-3703
OpenAlex
W2129601694
Cited by
172
References
49
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 10
FWCI
16.78
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Behavioral and Psychological Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › General Psychology › Academic and Historical Perspectives in Psychology
  • Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › General Decision Sciences › Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics
Keywords
derived relational responding, relational frame theory, operant behavior, multiple exemplar training, stimulus generalization, preschool children
MeSH terms
Aptitude, Child, Preschool, Concept Formation, Discrimination Learning, Female, Generalization, Psychological, Humans, Language Development, Pattern Recognition, Visual, Problem Solving, Semantics, Token Economy

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