The Effects of Reinforcing Operant Variability on Task Acquisition

Neuringer, Deiss, and Olson (2000) was replicated and extended to determine the effect of variability contingencies on task acquisition for twelve 7-9 year old children. Subjects first learned to press a computer's shift keys with increasing response variation. Each subject was then exposed to one of three experimental conditions during which they received a point for target responses. Variability condition subjects received additional points on a variable interval schedule for nontarget responses occurring less than 3% of the time. The any condition subjects received additional points on a variable interval schedule for any nontarget response. Control subjects received points only for target responses. All variability condition and two control subjects learned the target response. All any condition subjects and two control subjects did not.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of North Texas

Year dc:date

2002

Author dc:creator

• Seymour, Kail H.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Glenn, Sigrid S., 1939-
• Ala'i-Rosales, Shahla
• Smith, Richard

• Operant conditioning.
• Learning, Psychology of.
• variability
• learning
• children
• reinforcement
• target responses

Statement dc:rights

• Use restricted to UNT Community
• Copyright
• Seymour, Kail H.
• Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

oclc: 52142734
https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc3273/
ark: ark:/67531/metadc3273

OAI identifier oai:identifier

info:ark/67531/metadc3273