Complex human behavior: Stimulus equivalence and eye-tracking

Abstract

One of the approaches towards understanding complex human behavior from the behavior analytic position is the stimulus equivalence paradigm. Understanding of stimulus equivalence is of great importance both in regards of conceptual and application purposes. Moreover, eye-tracking—procedures of using high technological equipment to obtain précis and accurate measuring of eye movements—is increasingly applied across of various scientific disciplines. The union of stimulus equivalence and eye-tracking could provide access and advancement in understanding of the nature of stimulus equivalence. Article 1 is a conceptual piece presenting stimulus equivalence and the field of eye- tracking. The role of stimulus equivalences within behavior analysis is discussed and the different variables in which affect the establishment of stimulus equivalence classes is presented. Eye-tracking is introduced with a focus on, its historical highlights; application areas; the technology; different eye movement measures; and behavior analytic research that have employed eye-tracking technology. Article 2 is an empirical study of stimulus equivalence in conjunction with the use of eye-tracking technology. The utilization of eye-tracking allows for the concept of observing response to be used to expand the investigation of how different training structures (i.e., linear series; many-to-one; the one-to-many) influence the establishment of stimulus equivalence class formation, which is the purpose of the study. Results with the additional measures are presented in the form of reaction time; fixation time; fixation rate; and transition rate, and discussed with respect to previous findings within stimulus equivalence research.