DeLeon, I. G., Neidert, P. L., Anders, B. M., & Rodriguez-Catter, V. (2001).
Choices between positive and negative reinforcement during treatment for escape-maintained behavior.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
34, 521-525.
Positive reinforcement was more effective than negative
reinforcement in promoting compliance and reducing
escape-maintained problem behavior for a child with autism.
Escape extinction was then added while the child was given a
choice between positive or negative reinforcement for compliance
and the reinforcement schedule was thinned. When the
reinforcement requirement reached 10 consecutive tasks, the
treatment effects became inconsistent and reinforcer selection
shifted from a strong preference for positive reinforcement to an
unstable selection pattern.
DESCRIPTORS: _differential reinforcement, compliance, choice,
escape-maintained behavior, behavioral economics