The relationships between the stimuli can be documented by behavioral tests. The objective of the present study was to compare effects of two distinct teaching methods in the formation of ordinal classes. The participants were twelve students with special educational needs, of both sexes, divided in two experimental groups. The participants of Group A began with the chaining method and the participants of Group B with overlapping method. Behavioral tests evaluate the production of sequences of five stimuli. The required response was to select stimuli to form three sequences in decreasing order. Nine participants performed consistently in the tests suggesting formation of the ordinal classes. The chaining method showed effectiveness. The fundamental characteristic can be attributed to continued exposure to stimuli in teaching. The overlapping two stimuli appear to induce to more errors, probably to the suppression of stimuli while new stimuli are being added in the setting.
ordinal classes; sequence; mental retardation
