Alternate Title

Evaluating inhibitory stimulus control

Advisor(s)

Stacie Bancroft

Contributor(s)

William H. Ahearn, Julie S. Weiss

Date of Award

2011

Date Accepted

8-2011

Degree Grantor

Northeastern University

Degree Level

M.S.

Degree Name

Master of Applied Behavior Analysis

Department or Academic Unit

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

Keywords

psychology, behavioral, reinforcing efficacy, progressive-ratio (PR), high-preference (HP), low-preference (LP)

Subject Categories

Reinforcement (Psychology), Social interaction

Disciplines

Social Psychology

Abstract

Although research has been conducted on methods to increase the reinforcing efficacy of low-preference items such as edibles and leisure items, little research has been conducted on methods to increase the reinforcing efficacy of low-preference personnel. We first identified high-preference (HP) and low-preference (LP) personnel for two participants with developmental disabilities through a paired-stimulus preference assessment. A progressive-ratio (PR) assessment on HP and LP personnel was then conducted to determine relative reinforcing values. Through use of descriptive assessment, we then identified social interaction styles of the HP personnel and taught the LP personnel to behave similarly during the PR assessments through the use of training with video models. For both participants we demonstrated an increase in reinforcing value of the LP personnel. Implications and potential are discussed.

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Rights Holder

Dewey DeLisle


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