Equivalence Class Formation as Function of a Fragmented Versus a Linear Series Training Structure

The present experiment is a between-group study consisting of normally functioning adult participants divided into two different groups. The first group will undergo a linear training structure: A->B, B->C, C->D, D->E, E->F. The second group will undergo a fragmented training structure: A->B, E->F, D->E, C->D, and B->C. In addition, the procedure within the groups is varied in terms of interspersed mix blocks after the training of each relation which prolongs the training but makes the number of programmed presentations for each relation unequal, and no interspersed mix blocks which shorten the training and equalizes the number of programmed presentations for each relation. The participants are then tested for equivalence relations and within-class preference with the A and F stimuli as samples.