Xeres Delmendo, John C. Borrero, Kenneth L. Beauchamp, & Monica T. Francisco. (2009)
Consumption and response output as a function of unit price: Manipulation of cost and benefit components.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
42, 609-625.
We conducted preference assessments with 4 typically developing
children to identify potential reinforcers and assessed the reinforcing
efficacy of those stimuli. Next, we tested two predictions of economic
theory: that overall consumption (reinforcers obtained) would decrease
as the unit price (response requirement per reinforcer) increased and that
the cost and benefit components that defined unit price would not
influence overall consumption considerably when unit price values
were equal. We tested these predictions by arranging unit price such
that the denominator was one (e.g., two responses produced one reinforcer)
or two (e.g., four responses produced two reinforcers). Results showed
that consumption decreased as unit price increased and that unit price
values with different components produced similar consumption.
DESCRIPTORS: behavioral economics, costs and benefits, preference assessment, reinforcer demand, unit price