Reinforcement Magnitude: an Evaluation of Preference and Reinforcer Efficacy

Overview

Journal J Appl Behav Anal

Specialty Social Sciences

Date 2008 Jul 4

PMID 18595284

Citations 10

Authors

Nicole M Trosclair-Lasserre

Dorothea C Lerman

Nathan A Call

Laura R Addison

Tiffany Kodak

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

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.

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