Martens, B. K., Ardoin, S. P., Hilt, A. M., Lannie, A. L., Panahon, C. J., & Wolfe, L. A. (2002).
Sensitivity of children's behavior to probabilistic reward: Effects of a decreasing-ratio lottery system on math performance.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
35, 403-406.
Probabilistic reward has been shown to affect children's choice
behavior in game-like activities. We examined the effects of a
lottery system containing progressively lower exchange ratios on
children's completion of math problems. Two of the 3 children
completed problems above baseline levels until the chance of
exchange dropped to 25%. This study describes a potentially
useful method for examining reinforcement schedules in applied
settings and extends previous research on probabilities of
reinforcement.
DESCRIPTORS: _probabilistic reward, lottery systems, academic
behavior