The aim of this study was to verify the formation of conditional discriminations through a consistent matching training procedure with complex sample stimuli. Four university students were trained in the formation of AF, BE e DC conditional relations using simple stimuli and explicit differential reinforcement (Phase 1). They were subjected to consistent matching-to-sample training on the AB-E/F and AD-C/F relations involving complex sample stimuli (Phase 2). These participants were given the transitive and equivalent tests. Training trials were then "dismembered" (simplified) from AB-E/F, and AD-C/F sequences to AB-E; AB-F; AD-C; AD-F sequences, and the students were again tested for transitivity and equivalence (Phase 3). All participants reached the learning criterion. Two of them demonstrated the emergent relations tested before and after simplified training, and demonstrated response stability. These results indicated that the dismembered procedure was appropriate for reversing the restricted stimulus control.
conditional discrimination; consistency matching-to-sample training; complex stimuli; stimulus equivalence; college students
