Which concept describes stimuli that vary in physical form but produce the same behavioral effect?

Which concept describes stimuli that vary in physical form but produce the same behavioral effect?

• A. Topography
• B. Elicited
• C. Stimulus Class
• D. Trend (as in baseline)

Answer: (C)

Stimulus class describes stimuli that vary in physical form but produce the same behavioral effect. Different-looking stimuli can function equivalently to control the same response under the same reinforcement conditions—for example, various red shapes (circle, square, triangle) all signaling the same opportunity for reinforcement and thus evoking the same behavior. This is about functional similarity, not how the response itself looks. Topography is about the form of the response, not the antecedent stimuli. Elicited describes a response brought out by a stimulus, not the grouping of different stimuli by their function. Trend (as in baseline) refers to a pattern in data over time, not stimulus control.

Stimulus class describes stimuli that vary in physical form but produce the same behavioral effect. Different-looking stimuli can function equivalently to control the same response under the same reinforcement conditions—for example, various red shapes (circle, square, triangle) all signaling the same opportunity for reinforcement and thus evoking the same behavior. This is about functional similarity, not how the response itself looks.

Topography is about the form of the response, not the antecedent stimuli. Elicited describes a response brought out by a stimulus, not the grouping of different stimuli by their function. Trend (as in baseline) refers to a pattern in data over time, not stimulus control.