In search of operant classes in the real world: A case for synonyms and antonyms.

摘要

In the context of the academically important task of vocabulary building, the current investigation explored procedures that increase the rate of derived relational responding. Procedures involved the establishment of base rates of derived relational responding across multiple sets of synonyms and antonyms. Subsequently, sets were isolated and the rates of the mutual and combinatorially entailed derived relational responses were strengthened. Correlated increases in the rate of derived relational responding in untargeted sets were observed. Results are discussed in terms of their educational/applied relevance as well as their relevance to a basic natural science of language and cognition.