Rachel H. Thompson & Brian A. Iwata (2005).
A review of reinforcement control procedures.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
38, 257-278.
A demonstration of the effects of reinforcement requires comparison of
response rates in the presence of a contingency with those in another
condition that controls for the influence of extraneous variables. We
describe several control conditions that have been used in evaluating
the effects of positive and negative reinforcement. The methodological
rigor and practical utility of each type of control condition are discussed,
and recommendations for the use of these conditions are presented.
DESCRIPTORS: experimental design, extinction, differential
reinforcement of alternative behavior, differential reinforcement
of other behavior, contingency reversal, noncontingent reinforcement,
reinforcement control procedures, reversal designs