What method should be used to emphasize salient features when establishing stimulus control?

The focus of establishing stimulus control is to enhance a learner's ability to discern specific features or cues in their environment that signal when certain behaviors should be performed. Using extremely different stimuli effectively emphasizes salient features because it creates clear contrasts that help the learner readily identify the distinguishing characteristics of the target stimuli.

This method reduces confusion and increases attention to the relevant aspects of the stimuli in question. When stimuli are notably different from one another, it enhances the learner's ability to discriminate between them, ensuring they can accurately associate the correct behaviors with the corresponding stimuli.

In contrast, simply using fewer stimuli may limit the learner's exposure and practice with varied information. Being inconsistent with reinforcements can lead to confusion and reduce the chances of solidifying the correct behavior in response to stimuli. Introducing many new stimuli at once can overwhelm the learner, making it difficult to focus on the salient features of individual stimuli. Thus, employing extremely different stimuli is the most effective way to sharpen stimulus control and facilitate learning in communication disorders.