Training conditional discriminations with fixed and titrated delayed matching to sample in children

Abstract

In a series of experiments, we investigated the effects of delayed matching-to-sample (DMTS) on responding in accordance with stimulus equivalence in children. In Experiment 1, 20 participants were assigned to either 3 s or 6 s DMTS. The overall outcome showed high yields of derived responding but did not support a superiority of longer delays seen in some studies with adults. In Experiment 2, we arranged 3 s and 6 s titrating delayed matching-to-sample (TDMTS) procedures to see whether a gradual adjustment of delays based on participants’ performance would be more effective in establishing the conditional discriminations and responding in accordance with stimulus equivalence. The results showed that fixed delays were most effective. In Experiment 3, ten participants experienced TDMTS from 1.5 to 3 s. This procedure facilitated the establishment of AC trials in initial training but did not reduce the overall number of trials required to establish baseline discriminations or affect responding in accordance with stimulus equivalence. The results are discussed in light of results obtained with adults, stimulus control involved in simultaneous and delayed matching, and precurrent behavior.