Roane, H. S., Fisher, W. W., & McDonough, E. M. (2003).
Progressing from programmatic to discovery research: A case example with the overjustification effect.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
36, 35-46.
Scientific research progresses along planned (programmatic
research) and unplanned (discovery research) paths. In the
current investigation, we attempted to conduct a single-case
evaluation of the overjustification effect (i.e., programmatic
research). Results of the initial analysis were contrary to the
overjustification hypothesis in that removal of the reward
contingency produced an increase in responding. Based on this
unexpected finding, we conducted subsequent analyses to further
evaluate the mechanisms underlying these results (i.e., discovery
research). Results of the additional analyses suggested that the
reward contingency functioned as punishment (because the
participant preferred the task to the rewards) and that
withdrawal of the contingency produced punishment contrast.
DESCRIPTORS: _autism, behavioral contrast, discovery research,
overjustification, punishment