Concept Definition: Codic

Important characteristics of Michael's (1982) definition a codic:

General examples include: reading aloud and taking dictation.

Illustrative Example/Nonexample Pair #1

(The response to be analyzed is in bold text.)

Nonexample

A deaf student learning sign language signs "big dog" after seeing his teacher sign "big dog." His teacher praises him. As a result, he is more likely to make the same sign under similar conditions in the future.

Example

A deaf student learning sign language signs "big dog" while looking at the printed words big dog in a book. His teacher praises him. As a result, he is more likely to make the same sign under similar conditions in the future.

Analysis

The first item is not an example of a codic. The speaker is the deaf student. He did something (signed "big dog") and his behavior produced a reinforcing consequence (praise). We classify his behavior as verbal because its reinforcing consequence was mediated by a listener (his teacher). However, while his behavior was likely under the control of a verbal SD (his teacher signing "big dog") and the relation between the SD and the response is one of point-to-point correspondence, there is formal similarity between the SD (visual stimulus) and the response product (visual stimulus); that is, the SD and the response product look the same.

The second item is an example of a codic. Again, the speaker is the deaf student. He did something (signed "big dog") and his behavior produced a reinforcing consequence (praise). We classify his behavior as verbal because its reinforcing consequence was mediated by a listener (his teacher). Here, his behavior was likely under the control of a verbal SD (the printed words big dog) and there is no formal similarity between that SD (textual stimulus) and the response product (visual stimulus). Also, the relation between the SD and the response is one of point-to-point correspondence in that subdivisions of the textual stimulus (big / dog) controlled subdivisions of the response (sign "big" / sign "dog"). These are the three defining features of a codic