Abstract

SANTOS, Silvana Lopes dos  and  ROSE, Julio Cesar Coelho de. Maintenance of Equivalence Classes and Transfer of Functions: an investigation through the children's food choice. Perspectivas [online]. 2017, vol.8, n.1, pp. 1-15. ISSN 2177-3548.  http://dx.doi.org/10.18761/pac.2016.022.

This study investigated to what extent equivalence between cartoon character and brand can influence food choice. Also sought to verify the stability of formation of classes and the transfer of function. Eleven Preschool children formed two equivalence classes (A1B1C1 and A2B2C2) in which one class had a liked character (A1) and the other a disliked character (A2). The other stimuli were geometric figures (B1 and B2) and abstract symbols (C1 and C2). Three preference tests were conducted where the children had to choose from two samples of the same snack, differing only by the label on the packaging. In Test 1 the labels were symbols C1 and C2; in Test 2, C2 and a new symbol; and in Test 3, C1 and the other new symbol. After two weeks were repeated these tests and the equivalence test. Most children chose first, and reported to like more, the snack labeled with the symbol equivalent to the liked character. The Tests 2 and 3 were inconclusive. The maintenance tests demonstrated the formation of equivalence classes and transfers of functions were stable. It has concluded that stimulus equivalence is a useful paradigm to a behavioral investigation of attitudes and preferences for products.

Keywords : stimulus equivalence; transfer of function; Maintenance of equivalence classes; food choice and preference; cartoon character; children.

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