Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Publication

Further Evaluation of Synchronous Reinforcement for Increasing On-Task Behavior in Preschool Children

Diaz de Villegas, Sara Camille
Citations
Altmetric:
Abstract
Although a great deal of research has been conducted on schedules of reinforcement, most has involved evaluating discrete (discontinuous) operant responses and discrete (discontinuous and episodic) reinforcing events (Lattal & Neef, 1996; Williams & Johnston, 1992). Schedules of covariation are a far less studied set of schedules that involve continuous, or non-episodic, relations (Morgan, 2010; Williams & Johnston, 1992). One type of schedule of covariation is a synchronous schedule of reinforcement in which the duration of behavior directly controls and is perfectly synchronized with the duration of reinforcement on a moment-to-moment basis (Ramey et al., 1972). Diaz de Villegas (2020) compared the effects of a synchronous schedule (non-episodic schedule) to an accumulated schedule in which continuous access to stimuli were delivered at the end of session (episodic schedule) for increasing on-task behavior in preschoolers. Results suggested both schedules were effective for increasing on-task behavior for some participants; however, the synchronous schedule resulted in higher levels of on-task behavior and was preferred by most participants. We replicated and extended Diaz de Villegas et al. (2020) by comparing the effects of synchronous reinforcement to two accumulated reinforcement schedules. One accumulated schedule was the same as the one used in Diaz de Villegas et al., whereas the other accumulated schedule involved the delivery of tokens within the session. Furthermore, we assessed participant preference for the three schedules of reinforcement (i.e., synchronous, accumulated, accumulated token). Results showed the synchronous-reinforcement schedule was most effective for increasing on-task behavior and preferred by all seven participants. However, for some participants, other schedules were also similarly effective. Results are discussed with respect to implications for application and potential mechanisms of behavior change.
Description
Date
2022-08-31
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Kansas
Collections
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Keywords
Behavioral sciences, On-task behavior, Preschoolers, Reinforcement, Schedules, Schedules of Covariation, Synchronous Reinforcement
Citation
DOI
Embedded videos