Graff, R. B., & Libby, M. E. (1999).
A comparison of presession and within-session reinforcement choice.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
32, 161-173.
Single-and concurrent-operants procedures were used to evaluate
the effects of two reinforcement conditions on the free-operant
responding of 3 individuals with developmental disabilities and 1
with attention deficit disorder. In the presession choice
condition, prior to each session the participant chose one item
from an array of three different highly preferred stimuli. This
item was delivered by the experimenter on each reinforcer
delivery during that session. In the within-session choice
condition, each reinforcer delivery consisted of placing an array
of three different highly preferred stimuli in front of the
participant, who was allowed to select one. Only one of the two
reinforcement conditions was in effect for any particular session
in single-operant phases. Buttons associated with each
reinforcement condition were present, and the participant could
allocate responses to one or the other in concurrent-operants
phases. Data showed substantially more responding to the button
associated with within-session choice than presession choice
during concurrent-operants phases. This effect was not as
apparent during single-operant phases, suggesting that a
concurrent-operants procedure provided the more sensitive
evaluation of within-session and presession reinforcer choice
effects.
DESCRIPTORS: reinforcement, choice, developmental disabilities