Berg, W. K., Peck, S., Wacker, D. P., Harding, J., McComas, J., Richman, D., & Brown, K. (2000).
The effects of presession exposure to attention on the results of assessments of attention as a reinforcer.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
33, 463-477.
The effects of presession exposure to attention on responding
during subsequent assessments of attention as a reinforcer were
evaluated across three behavioral assessments. In Experiment 1, a
contingent attention assessment condition was preceded by either
a noncontingent attention condition (free play) or a contingent
escape condition. In Experiment 2, a diverted attention with
extinction condition was preceded by either an alone or a
free-play condition. In Experiment 3, a two-choice preference
assessment was preceded by either 10 min of free play or 10 min
of playing alone. In each experiment, the participant responded
differentially within the test condition according to the
presence or absence of dense schedules of attention immediately
prior to that condition. The results of this study show that
events occurring immediately prior to an assessment condition can
influence behavior within the assessment.
DESCRIPTORS: _sequence effects, establishing operations, positive
reinforcement, attention, functional analysis