Alternate Title

Reinforcers in choice contexts

Advisor(s)

Jason C. Bourret

Contributor(s)

William H. Ahearn, Richard B. Graff

Date of Award

2010

Date Accepted

8-2010

Degree Grantor

Northeastern University

Degree Level

M.S.

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department or Academic Unit

Bouvé College of Health Sciences. Department of Counseling and Applied Educational Psychology.

Keywords

behavioral sciences, choice, choice contexts, concurrent, concurrent-chains, reinforcement, reinforcers

Subject Categories

Choice (Psychology) - Case studies

Disciplines

Cognitive Psychology

Abstract

Previous studies have shown participants prefer concurrently available sources of reinforcement relative to a solitary source of reinforcement. The effects of arranging concurrently available sources of reinforcement on the rate of a single response, however, are unclear. In Study 1, a concurrent-chains schedule was used to measure preference between concurrent (choice) and simple FR1 (single-alternative) terminal links. Participants were presented with two plates: a plate with multiple edible items and a plate with one edible item, all edibles were the identical. Results determined that both participants preferred the concurrent link to the single-alternative link. In Study 2, concurrent and single-alternative conditions were arranged for both participants in a multi-element design and schedule requirements for both were systematically manipulated. No differences in absolute reinforcing efficacy between single-alternative and concurrent reinforcement arrangements emerged.

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Rights Holder

Casey J. Clay


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