Nicole M. Trosclair-Lasserre, Dorothea C. Lerman, Nathan A. Call, Laura R. Addison, & Tiffany Kodak.
Reinforcement magnitude: An evaluation of preference and reinforcer efficacy.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 2008,
41, 203-220.
Consideration of reinforcer magnitude may be important for maximizing the
efficacy of treatment for problem behavior. Nonetheless, relatively little is
known about children’s preferences for different magnitudes of social
reinforcement or the extent to which preference is related to differences in
reinforcer efficacy. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the
relations among reinforcer magnitude, preference, and efficacy by drawing
on the procedures and results of basic experimentation in this area. Three
children who engaged in problem behavior that was maintained by social
positive reinforcement (attention, access to tangible items) participated.
Results indicated that preference for different magnitudes of social
reinforcement may predict reinforcer efficacy and that magnitude effects
may be mediated by the schedule requirement.
DESCRIPTORS: concurrent operants, preference,
progressive-ratio schedules, reinforcement magnitude, reinforcer efficacy