The article by J. Michael from Western Michigan University explores the distinction between discriminative and motivational functions of stimuli in operant behavior. A discriminative stimulus (SD) is defined as a stimulus that increases the frequency of a specific response because it is correlated with an increase in the frequency of that response being followed by a particular type of reinforcement. However, the author points out that many situations involve what is generally considered a discriminative stimulus but lack the third defining characteristic—namely, the correlation with reinforcement. In these cases, the stimulus change functions more like an establishing operation, which can be more accurately described as an "establishing stimulus" (SE). The author argues that the term "establishing operation" is needed to describe operations that alter the effectiveness of an object or event as reinforcement and simultaneously increase the frequency of a behavior that has been followed by that reinforcement. This term is proposed to better capture the dual effects of such operations, which are often overlooked or subsumed under other headings. The article also discusses the behavioral effects of deprivation, such as increased effectiveness of a reinforcer and increased frequency of behavior that has been reinforced with that reinforcer. It highlights that these two effects cannot be easily derived from each other and need to be distinguished. The author suggests that the term "establishing operation" can help clarify the role of such operations in behavior change. Finally, the article introduces the concept of an "establishing stimulus" (SE), which is a stimulus change that functions as a discriminative stimulus for one response but as an establishing stimulus for another response. The author provides examples, including a human scenario involving an electrician and an animal experiment with a food-deprived monkey, to illustrate how SEs work in practice. The article concludes by discussing alternative approaches to the terminological problem and emphasizes the need for a more precise and comprehensive terminology to improve our understanding and communication about behavior.The article by J. Michael from Western Michigan University explores the distinction between discriminative and motivational functions of stimuli in operant behavior. A discriminative stimulus (SD) is defined as a stimulus that increases the frequency of a specific response because it is correlated with an increase in the frequency of that response being followed by a particular type of reinforcement. However, the author points out that many situations involve what is generally considered a discriminative stimulus but lack the third defining characteristic—namely, the correlation with reinforcement. In these cases, the stimulus change functions more like an establishing operation, which can be more accurately described as an "establishing stimulus" (SE). The author argues that the term "establishing operation" is needed to describe operations that alter the effectiveness of an object or event as reinforcement and simultaneously increase the frequency of a behavior that has been followed by that reinforcement. This term is proposed to better capture the dual effects of such operations, which are often overlooked or subsumed under other headings. The article also discusses the behavioral effects of deprivation, such as increased effectiveness of a reinforcer and increased frequency of behavior that has been reinforced with that reinforcer. It highlights that these two effects cannot be easily derived from each other and need to be distinguished. The author suggests that the term "establishing operation" can help clarify the role of such operations in behavior change. Finally, the article introduces the concept of an "establishing stimulus" (SE), which is a stimulus change that functions as a discriminative stimulus for one response but as an establishing stimulus for another response. The author provides examples, including a human scenario involving an electrician and an animal experiment with a food-deprived monkey, to illustrate how SEs work in practice. The article concludes by discussing alternative approaches to the terminological problem and emphasizes the need for a more precise and comprehensive terminology to improve our understanding and communication about behavior.