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Abstract
The following study attempted to alter preferences for concurrently available slot machines via the transformation of stimulus functions. Participants alternated between play on two casinos, each casino contained two equal probability slot machines. In the first phase participants rated stimuli, which were used to create personalized equivalence classes in subsequent phases. During the second phase participants alternated play between the two casinos. In the third phase two equivalence classes were created using conditional discrimination training. The first equivalence class consisted of the word label of the most highly preferred slot machine (at CASINO-A), the word rated as most pleasant during Phase 1, and a neutrally rated color. The second equivalence class consisted of the word label of the non-preferred slot machine from CASINO-A, the word rated as most aversive during Phase 1, and a neutrally rated color. During Phase 4 participants alternated play between CASINO-A and CASINO-B, each containing two equal probability slot machines (as in Phase 2). During Phase 5 participants completed conditional discrimination training intended to alter or reverse the baseline conditional discriminations at CASINO-A. Participants returned to the equal probability slot machines in Phase 6. Phases 2 through 6 were repeated in an attempt to alter responding at CASINO-B.
