Association for Behavior Analysis International

Previous researchers have found that single trial type dominance effects are repeatedly obtained when participants complete a shape-color Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP) (Finn et al., 2016). While initially these effects were unexpected, due to a lack of emotional functions for the stimuli used, the differential arbitrary relational responding effect (DAARRE) model was proposed to explain these single trial type dominance effects (Finn et al., 2018). One assertion of the DAARRE model is that the relative historical frequency of contact with stimuli has an effect on IRAP results. As such, based on the DAARRE model, if one could control the relative frequency of contact with experimental stimuli, IRAP results should be more predictable. As such, in the current study we trained participants to respond to arbitrary experimental stimuli in an effort to control the relative frequency of exposure to stimuli. The assumption is that we should be able to predict a single trial type dominance effect based on the amount of exposure participants have with the different stimuli being utilized in an IRAP. Preliminary data demonstrated the predictions of the DAARRE model. Additional findings and implications for the DAARRE model and future IRAP research will be discussed.

Research conducted by Finn and colleagues (2016, 2018) reported initially unexpected differential patterns of IRAP effects when employing stimuli that were assumedly relatively non-valenced (shapes and colors). It was argued that this may have been because participants tended to orient to the color stimuli more readily than the shape stimuli because color words occur far more frequently in natural language than shape words (specifically in Dutch, the language in which the study was conducted). These and related findings gave rise to the differential arbitrarily applicable responding effects (DAARRE) model for conceptualizing patterns of IRAP effects, explicitly emphasizing the impact of stimulus orienting properties. In Brazilian Portuguese, color words also occur more frequently than shape words in natural language. The current study thus sought to replicate and extend the previous findings. That is, if stimulus orienting properties (based on frequency of use in natural language) were critical in producing the reported effect, replicating this study in Portuguese should produce a similar pattern of effects. Patterns produced by student participants recruited to date replicate this same pattern. Group and individual patterns of responding are discussed, as are implications for the role of stimulus orienting properties in producing effects on the IRAP.

This study aimed to build on existing research on the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP), which has identified different patterns of IRAP effects associated with responses to happy and angry facial expressions. The objectives were to (1) replicate the previously observed happiness superiority effect with a larger participant group than previous studies and (2) explore whether the IRAP effect would be influenced by self-reported levels of depression. 122 participants completed an IRAP that presented pairs of emotional faces in a 2x2 crossover design yielding four trial-types: happy face-happy face, happy face-angry face, angry face-happy face and angry face-angry face. The results showed a clear happiness superiority effect, with the IRAP effect for trial-type 1 (happy face-happy face) larger than the IRAP effect for trial-type 4 (angry face-angry face). Self-reported depression appeared to moderate responding, with low depressed individuals producing a larger D-IRAP score on the trial-type 1 relative to high depressed individuals. The findings support recent arguments that the stimulus function properties of all elements within an IRAP should be taken into account when predicting and interpreting behavioral patterns produced on the procedure. Considerations for use of the IRAP to predict behaviors in the natural environment are discussed.