Cuvo, A. J., Lerch, L. J., Leurquin, D. A., Gaffaney, T. J., & Poppen, R. L. (1998).
Response allocation to concurrent fixed-ratio reinforcement schedules with work requirements by adults with mental retardation and typical preschool children.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
31, 43-63.
The present experiments examined the effect of work requirements
in combination with reinforcement schedule on the choice behavior
of adults with mental retardation and preschool children. The
work requirements of age-appropriate tasks (i.e., sorting
silverware, jumping hurdles, tossing beanbags) were manipulated.
Participants were presented with their choice of two response
options for each trial that varied simultaneously on both work
requirement and reinforcement schedule. Results showed that when
responding to both choices occurred on the same reinforcement
schedule, participants allocated most of their responses to the
option with the easier work requirement. When the response option
requiring less work was on a leaner reinforcement schedule, most
participants shifted their choice to exert more work. There were
individual differences across participants regarding their
pattern of responding and when they switched from the lesser to
the greater work requirement. Data showed that participants'
responding was largely controlled by the reinforcement received
for responding to each level of work. Various conceptualizations
regarding the effects of work requirements on choice behavior are
discussed.
DESCRIPTORS: concurrent schedules, fixed-ratio schedules, effort,
mental retardation, children