Stimulus Class
Also called: formal stimulus class, functional stimulus class, feature stimulus class
Definition
A group of stimuli that share something and so affect behavior in the same way. They may share physical features (all red things), a temporal relation to behavior (all events that follow a response), or a function (all things that signal a break is available), and membership can differ for different learners.
In plain language
A group of things that count as the same for a learner, because they look alike or do the same job.
Example
Pictures of many different dogs, all of which occasion the word "dog," form a stimulus class for that learner.
Not stimulus class
A single flash card. One stimulus is not a class; the class is the set of things that work the same way.
See also
Written from
- skinner-1953
Written from Skinner (1953) and the stimulus-control literature. No textbook glossary consulted.
This entry has not yet been through clinical review. Treat it as a draft.