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Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis logoLink to Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis
. 1977 Summer;10(2):349–367. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1977.10-349

An implicit technology of generalization1

Trevor F Stokes 1,2, Donald M Baer 1,2
PMCID: PMC1311194  PMID: 16795561

Abstract

Traditionally, discrimination has been understood as an active process, and a technology of its procedures has been developed and practiced extensively. Generalization, by contrast, has been considered the natural result of failing to practice a discrimination technology adequately, and thus has remained a passive concept almost devoid of a technology. But, generalization is equally deserving of an active conceptualization and technology. This review summarizes the structure of the generalization literature and its implicit embryonic technology, categorizing studies designed to assess or program generalization according to nine general headings: Train and Hope; Sequential Modification; Introduce to Natural Maintaining Contingencies; Train Sufficient Exemplars; Train Loosely; Use Indiscriminable Contingencies; Program Common Stimuli; Mediate Generalization; and Train “To Generalize”.

Keywords: generalization, treatment-gain durability, followup measures, maintenance, postcheck methodology

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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