The study presented here investigated the effect of common and uncommon elements on class merger as predicted by Sidman in his reconceptualization of stimulus equivalence suggesting that common elements among contingencies can facilitate emergent performances (1994, 1997, 2000). Eight adult participants were exposed to a procedure that arranged for stimulus–reinforcer correlations in Phase 1 and response–reinforcer correlations in Phase 2 of a 3‐phase study. In the common element group, the visual images serving as reinforcers were the same in Phase 1 and Phase 2. In the uncommon elements group, the images serving as reinforcers were different in Phases 1 and 2. In Phase 3, participants were given an opportunity to respond but no feedback was programmed. The results showed that participants' responding was well differentiated in the common element group and undifferentiated in the uncommon elements group. These results are predicted by Sidman's revised formulation of the provenance and scope of equivalence relations. Specifically, these data support Sidman's (1994, 1997, 2000) suggestion that elements of a contingency enter into an equivalence class and common elements among contingencies are sufficient to produce class mergers. The findings highlight an emergent simple discrimination and raise some interesting considerations about the definition of equivalence under the new formulation.

中文翻译：

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共同元素是否能预测阶级合并：对 Sidman 等价理论的检验

这里介绍的研究调查了常见和不常见元素对类合并的影响，正如 Sidman 在他重新定义刺激等效性时所预测的那样，表明突发事件中的共同元素可以促进紧急表现（1994、1997、2000）。八名成年参与者接受了一个程序，该程序在第 1 阶段安排了刺激-强化物相关性，在第 2 阶段研究中安排了反应-强化物相关性。在共同元素组中，作为强化物的视觉图像在阶段 1 和阶段 2 中相同。在不常见元素组中，作为强化物的图像在阶段 1 和阶段 2 中不同。在阶段 3 中，参与者有机会响应，但没有编程反馈。结果表明，参与者的 反应在共同元素组中分化良好，在不常见元素组中未分化。这些结果是由 Sidman 对等价关系的出处和范围的修订公式预测的。具体而言，这些数据支持 Sidman (1994, 1997, 2000) 的建议，即意外事件的元素进入等价类，意外事件之间的公共元素足以产生类合并。研究结果突出了一个新兴的简单歧视，并提出了一些关于新公式下等效定义的有趣考虑。2000) 建议意外事件的元素进入等价类，意外事件之间的共同元素足以产生类合并。研究结果突出了一个新兴的简单歧视，并提出了一些关于新公式下等效定义的有趣考虑。2000) 建议意外事件的元素进入等价类，意外事件之间的共同元素足以产生类合并。研究结果突出了一个新兴的简单歧视，并提出了一些关于新公式下等效定义的有趣考虑。