Reassessing the Power of One Reinforcer with an Evaluation of Learning Histories

Best practices for shaping procedures have yet to be established. Previous research has evaluated the impact of a single conditioned reinforcer delivered for a non-target behavior during shaping following a period of time without reinforcement (Hunter & Rosales-Ruiz, 2019). Findings suggested that the non-target behavior consequated with the conditioned reinforcer persisted into a 1-min extinction phase at similar or greater levels than behaviors that had been repeatedly reinforced. Persistence of a non-target response may be due to the acquired learning history of participants. This study sought to replicate the findings of Hunter and Rosales-Ruiz and further evaluate the role of the experimental learning history in the persistence of the non-target behavior. Major findings of the initial study were replicated. The present research also found evidence that the conditioned reinforcers may have acquired discriminative properties as a result of the experimental history such that they induced continued responding after a single delivery.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Kansas

Year dc:date.issued

2023

Author dc:creator

• Messiah, Emily L

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Kuhn, Robin M

• Behavioral sciences
• history effects
• reinforcer
• shaping

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright held by the author.

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:19257

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/38731