Gregory P. Hanley, Jeffrey H. Tiger, Einar T. Ingvarsson, & Anthony P. Cammilleri. (2009).
Influencing preschoolers’ free-play activity preferences: An evaluation of satiation and embedded reinforcement.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
42, 33-41.
The present study evaluated the effects of classwide satiation
and embedded reinforcement procedures on preschoolers’ activity
preferences during scheduled free-play periods. The goal of the
study was to increase time allocation to originally nonpreferred,
but important, activities (instructional zone, library, and science)
while continuing to provide access to all free-play activities.
The satiation intervention applied to preferred activities resulted
in increased time allocation to the instructional and science
activities, the customized embedded reinforcement interventions
resulted in increased time allocation to all three target activities,
and high levels of attendance to the instructional and library
activities were maintained during follow-up observations. Implications
for the design of preschool free-play periods are discussed.
DESCRIPTORS: choice, embedded reinforcement, free play, preference assessment, preschoolers, satiation