Abstract

ROSE, Júlio C. de  and  BORTOLOTI, Renato. Stimulus equivalence as a model of meaning. Acta comport. [online]. 2007, vol.15, n.spe, pp. 83-102. ISSN 0188-8145.

The stimulus equivalence paradigm defined symbolic behaviors providing operational criteria that allowed experimental shnulations of the acquisition and manipulation of symbols. This paper describes a validation of equivalence as a model of meaning and deals with quantitative properties of symbolic relations. Results obtained in experimental studies that used a semantic differential to evaluate equivalent stimuli are presented as empirical evidences that equivalence relations can establish meaning to meaningless stimuli. The semantic differential also allowed an evaluation of quantitative properties of equivalence relations through the measurement of the degree of meaning transfer through the established classes. In the works described, the degree of meaning transfer seemed to vary according to the experimental parameters involved. Variations in the transfer of functions indicate variations in the relatedness of equivalent stimuli.

Keywords : Stimulus equivalence; Transfer of function; Measurement of meaning; Relatedness of equivalent stimuli.

        · abstract in Portuguese     · text in Portuguese     · Portuguese ( pdf )