The capacity to exhibit generalized sameness-difference judgments is a hallmark of cognition that is regularly exhibited by humans. As yet, that capacity has not been well documented in New World monkeys such as the capuchin (Cebus apel/a). This article presents data obtained with 6 capuchi n monkeys with a variety of procedures that might lead to gEmeralized identity matching-to-sample (MTS) in this species, reporting part of a research program conducted to evaluate methods for assessing the species' relational learning capacity. Our working hypothesis is that past failures to demonstrate relational learning have been caused by procedural insufficiency rather than a lack of capacity. Thus far, 6 capuchin monkeys have been test, ed for generalized identity MTS. The apparatus was a touchscreen-equipped microcomputer-controlled experimental chamber. Eleven sets of 3 visual stimuli (black shapes on gray backgrounds) were used. The general procedure was comprised of 4 phases: (a) simple discriminations, (b) repeated shifts of simple discriminations, (c) identity MTS training, and (d) generalized identity MTS tests . Every subject was exposed to each of the phasE3s. Positive results

Este estudo investigou variáveis controladoras de auto-relatos de crianças com história de fracasso escolar sobre desempenhos acadêmicos antecedentes e condições para produzir auto-relatos precisos, correspondentes a ações antecedentes. Quatro crianças do ciclo básico escolar participaram. “Fazer” consistiu em ler em voz alta uma palavra escrita. “Dizer” consistiu em relatar se sua leitura havia sido ou não correta. Numa condição linha de base, na ausência do experimentador e sem conseqüências contingentes à correspondência, os participantes sistematicamente relataram como corretas as suas leituras incorretas. A presença do experimentador e o reforço de correspondência foram condições efetivas para aumentar o número de relatos precisos desses desempenhos. Uma história de punição de erros, provavelmente, controlou inicialmente o auto-relato impreciso das crianças. Palavras-chave: correspondência entre dizer a fazer, fracasso escolar, auto-relato, crianças

Os procedimentos tipicamente usados em Análise Experimental do Comportamento para estudar a formação de classes de equivalência podem constituir um modelo experimental para estudar o comportamento simbólico. A formação de classes de equivalência e o comportamento simbólico têm em comum o fato de elementos dissimilares, uma vez arbitrariamente relacionados, se tornaram equivalentes, ou seja, se tornaram substituíveis no que diz respeito ao controle de repertórios a eles associados. Dificuldades para obtenção de classes de equivalência com organismos nãolingüísticos têm levado à especulação de que a formação de classes de equivalência, e possivelmente o comportamento simbólico, seja um fenômeno dependente de funcionamento lingüístico. Alguns trabalhos relatados na literatura, contudo, sugerem que as dificuldades de obtenção de classes de equivalência com organismos não-lingüísticos podem decorrer da falha dos procedimentos para efetivamente treinar as relações de controle planejadas pelo experimentador. O presente trabalho apresenta uma breve revisão de conceitos básicos sobre relações de equivalência, discute algumas das possibilidades de desenvolvimento de controle incoerente em estudos sobre equivalência e aponta brevemente alguns estudos sobre procedimentos alternativos para selecionar relações de controle coerentes com as relações experimentalmente planejadas. Palavras-chave: classes de equivalência, comportamento simbólico, topografia de controle de estímulos, comportamento animal.

A positive symmetry test result was obtained with a capuchin monkey that had previously exhibited virtually errorless AB and BA arbitrary matching-to-sample (MTS) with different stimuli. The symmetry test (BA) followed the acquisition of a new AB relation. It seemed possible, however, that the positive result could have occurred through the exclusion of previously defined comparison stimuli and not because the new AB and BA relations had the property of symmetry. To assess this possibility, a blank-comparison MTS procedure was implemented that permitted the separate assessment of select and reject (i.e., exclusion) control with both baseline and BA matching relations. In this assessment, the monkey did not exhibit reliable BA matching when exclusion was not possible, thus showing that the symmetry result was a false positive. However, the study demonstrated the feasibility of using a blank comparison MTS procedure with capuchins. The present results may set the stage for more successful methodology for establishing desired forms of relational stimulus control in capuchins and ultimately improving the assessment of relational learning capacity in that species, other nonhuman species, and nonverbal humans.

Teaching the first instances of arbitrary matching to sample to nonhumans can prove difficult and time consuming. Stimulus control relations may develop that differ from those intended by the experimenter – even when stimulus control shaping procedures are used. This paper reports efforts to identify sources of shaping program failure with a capuchin monkey. Procedures began with a baseline of identity matching. During subsequent shaping trials, compound comparison stimuli had two components – one identical to and another different from the sample. The identical component was eliminated gradually by removing portions across trials (i.e., subtracting stimulus elements). The monkey performed accurately throughout shaping. At a late stage in the program, probe tests were conducted: (1) arbitrary matching trials that had all elements of the identical comparison removed and (2) other trials that included residual elements. During the test, the monkey performed at low levels on the former trials and higher levels on the latter. These results suggested that higher accuracy was due merely to continued control by the residual elements: the target arbitrary matching relations had not been learned. Thus, it appears that procedures that gradually transform identity matching baselines into arbitrary matching can fail by inadvertently shaping restricted control by residual elements. Subsequent probes at the end of the shaping series showed a successful transfer of stimulus control from identity to arbitrary matching after further programming steps apparently overcame the restricted stimulus control.