John Austin, Stacey Hackett, Nicole Gravina, & Angela Lebbon. (2006)
The effects of prompting and feedback on drivers’ stopping at stop signs.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
39, 117-121.
Complete stops at a high-traffic intersection on the campus of a public
university were increased with a prompting and consequence intervention.
Data were collected at two opposing stop signs (Stop A and Stop B); however,
the intervention was implemented only at Stop A. During the intervention,
a volunteer stood next to Stop A holding a poster that read,
“Please Stop—I Care,”
with “Thank You For Stopping” on the reverse side. The poster was held by
the volunteer so that drivers approaching Stop A could read the sign. Drivers
approaching Stop B could see the volunteer but could not read the sign. When
vehicles approaching Stop A made a complete stop, the volunteer flashed the
“thank you” side of the poster to the driver. The strategy was evaluated using
a multielement design. The intervention increased stops completed at Stop A
from a baseline average of 13% to an intervention average of 52%. Stop B also
showed improved stopping, from a baseline average of 6% to an intervention
average of 28%. Data showed no relation between complete stops made and the
drivers’ use of turn signals and safety belts.
DESCRIPTORS: prompting, complete stopping, safety, antecedent