Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis logoLink to Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis
. 1996 Summer;29(2):213–230. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1996.29-213

Recent reinforcement-schedule research and applied behavior analysis

Kennon A Lattal 1,2, Nancy A Neef 1,2
PMCID: PMC1279895  PMID: 16795888

Abstract

Reinforcement schedules are considered in relation to applied behavior analysis by examining several recent laboratory experiments with humans and other animals. The experiments are drawn from three areas of contemporary schedule research: behavioral history effects on schedule performance, the role of instructions in schedule performance of humans, and dynamic schedules of reinforcement. All of the experiments are discussed in relation to the role of behavioral history in current schedule performance. The paper concludes by extracting from the experiments some more general issues concerning reinforcement schedules in applied research and practice.

Keywords: reinforcement schedules, behavioral history, verbal behavior, dynamic schedules, application of basic processes

Full text

PDF
213

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Baer D. M. "Perhaps it would be better not to know everything.". J Appl Behav Anal. 1977 Spring;10(1):167–172. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1977.10-167. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Baer D. M., Wolf M. M., Risley T. R. Some current dimensions of applied behavior analysis. J Appl Behav Anal. 1968 Spring;1(1):91–97. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1968.1-91. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Baron A., Leinenweber A. Effects of a variable-ratio conditioning history on sensitivity to fixed-interval contingencies in rats. J Exp Anal Behav. 1995 Jan;63(1):97–110. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1995.63-97. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Baum W. M. The correlation-based law of effect. J Exp Anal Behav. 1973 Jul;20(1):137–153. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1973.20-137. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Bradshaw C. M., Szabadi E., Bevan P. Behavior of humans in variable-interval schedules of reinforcement. J Exp Anal Behav. 1976 Sep;26(2):135–141. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1976.26-135. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Bradshaw C. M., Szabadi E., Bevan P. Effect of punishment on human variable-interval performance. J Exp Anal Behav. 1977 Mar;27(2):275–279. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1977.27-275. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Bradshaw C. M., Szabadi E., Bevan P. The effect of punishment on free-operant choice behavior in humans. J Exp Anal Behav. 1979 Jan;31(1):71–81. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1979.31-71. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Catania A. C., Matthews B. A., Shimoff E. Instructed versus shaped human verbal behavior: Interactions with nonverbal responding. J Exp Anal Behav. 1982 Nov;38(3):233–248. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1982.38-233. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Charnov E. L. Optimal foraging, the marginal value theorem. Theor Popul Biol. 1976 Apr;9(2):129–136. doi: 10.1016/0040-5809(76)90040-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Deacon J. R., Konarski E. A., Jr Correspondence training: an example of rule-governed behavior? J Appl Behav Anal. 1987 Winter;20(4):391–400. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1987.20-391. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Dougherty D. M., Cherek D. R., Roache J. D. The effects of smoked marijuana on progressive-interval schedule performance in humans. J Exp Anal Behav. 1994 Jul;62(1):73–87. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1994.62-73. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Eckerman D. A., Hienz R. D., Stern S., Kowlowitz V. Shaping the location of a pigeon's peck: effect of rate and size of shaping steps. J Exp Anal Behav. 1980 May;33(3):299–310. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1980.33-299. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Freeman T. J., Lattal K. A. Stimulus control of behavioral history. J Exp Anal Behav. 1992 Jan;57(1):5–15. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1992.57-5. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Galbicka G. Shaping in the 21st century: Moving percentile schedules into applied settings. J Appl Behav Anal. 1994 Winter;27(4):739–760. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1994.27-739. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Galizio M. Contingency-shaped and rule-governed behavior: instructional control of human loss avoidance. J Exp Anal Behav. 1979 Jan;31(1):53–70. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1979.31-53. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. HODOS W. Progressive ratio as a measure of reward strength. Science. 1961 Sep 29;134(3483):943–944. doi: 10.1126/science.134.3483.943. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Hackenberg T. D., Axtell S. A. Human's choices in situations of time-based diminishing returns. J Exp Anal Behav. 1993 May;59(3):445–470. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1993.59-445. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Hackenberg T. D., Joker V. R. Instructional versus schedule control of humans' choices in situations of diminishing returns. J Exp Anal Behav. 1994 Nov;62(3):367–383. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1994.62-367. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Hanna E. S., Blackman D. E., Todorov J. C. Stimulus effects on concurrent performance in transition. J Exp Anal Behav. 1992 Sep;58(2):335–347. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1992.58-335. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Hayes S. C., Brownstein A. J., Zettle R. D., Rosenfarb I., Korn Z. Rule-governed behavior and sensitivity to changing consequences of responding. J Exp Anal Behav. 1986 May;45(3):237–256. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1986.45-237. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Horne P. J., Lowe C. F. Determinants of human performance on concurrent schedules. J Exp Anal Behav. 1993 Jan;59(1):29–60. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1993.59-29. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Israel A. C. Some thoughts on correspondence between saying and doing. J Appl Behav Anal. 1978 Summer;11(2):271–276. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1978.11-271. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Iwata B. A., Dorsey M. F., Slifer K. J., Bauman K. E., Richman G. S. Toward a functional analysis of self-injury. J Appl Behav Anal. 1994 Summer;27(2):197–209. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1994.27-197. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Iwata B. A. Negative reinforcement in applied behavior analysis: an emerging technology. J Appl Behav Anal. 1987 Winter;20(4):361–378. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1987.20-361. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Jacobs E. A., Hackenberg T. D. Humans' choices in situations of time-based diminishing returns: effects of fixed-interval duration and progressive-interval step size. J Exp Anal Behav. 1996 Jan;65(1):5–19. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1996.65-5. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Keesey R. E., Goldstein M. D. Use of progressive fixed-ratio procedures in the assessment of intracranial reinforcement. J Exp Anal Behav. 1968 May;11(3):293–301. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1968.11-293. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Kuch D. O., Platt J. R. Reinforcement rate and interresponse time differentiation. J Exp Anal Behav. 1976 Nov;26(3):471–486. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1976.26-471. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. LeFrancois J. R., Metzger B. Low-response-rate conditioning history and fixed-interval responding in rats. J Exp Anal Behav. 1993 May;59(3):543–549. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1993.59-543. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Lea S. E. Titration of schedule parameters by pigeons. J Exp Anal Behav. 1976 Jan;25(1):43–54. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1976.25-43. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Lerman D. C., Iwata B. A., Smith R. G., Zarcone J. R., Vollmer T. R. Transfer of behavioral function as a contributing factor in treatment relapse. J Appl Behav Anal. 1994 Summer;27(2):357–370. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1994.27-357. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Lovaas O. I. The development of a treatment-research project for developmentally disabled and autistic children. J Appl Behav Anal. 1993 Winter;26(4):617–630. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1993.26-617. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Mace F. C., Hock M. L., Lalli J. S., West B. J., Belfiore P., Pinter E., Brown D. K. Behavioral momentum in the treatment of noncompliance. J Appl Behav Anal. 1988 Summer;21(2):123–141. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1988.21-123. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Mace F. C., Lalli J. S., Shea M. C., Lalli E. P., West B. J., Roberts M., Nevin J. A. The momentum of human behavior in a natural setting. J Exp Anal Behav. 1990 Nov;54(3):163–172. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1990.54-163. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Mace F. C., Neef N. A. Limited matching on concurrent-schedule reinforcement of academic behavior. J Appl Behav Anal. 1994 Winter;27(4):585–596. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1994.27-585. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Meichenbaum D. H., Goodman J. Training impulsive children to talk to themselves: a means of developing self-control. J Abnorm Psychol. 1971 Apr;77(2):115–126. doi: 10.1037/h0030773. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Neef N. A. Effects of reinforcer rate and reinforcer quality on time allocation: Extensions of matching theory to educational settings. J Appl Behav Anal. 1992 Fall;25(3):691–699. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1992.25-691. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Neef N. A., Mace F. C., Shade D. Impulsivity in students with serious emotional disturbance: the interactive effects of reinforcer rate, delay, and quality. J Appl Behav Anal. 1993 Spring;26(1):37–52. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1993.26-37. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Neef N. A., Shafer M. S., Egel A. L., Cataldo M. F., Parrish J. M. The class specific effects of compliance training with "do" and "don't" requests: analogue analysis and classroom application. J Appl Behav Anal. 1983 Spring;16(1):81–99. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1983.16-81. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  39. Nevin J. A., Mandell C., Atak J. R. The analysis of behavioral momentum. J Exp Anal Behav. 1983 Jan;39(1):49–59. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1983.39-49. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  40. Nevin J. A. Quantitative analysis. J Exp Anal Behav. 1984 Nov;42(3):421–434. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1984.42-421. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  41. Parrish J. M., Cataldo M. F., Kolko D. J., Neef N. A., Egel A. L. Experimental analysis of response covariation among compliant and inappropriate behaviors. J Appl Behav Anal. 1986 Fall;19(3):241–254. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1986.19-241. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  42. Rosenfarb I. S., Newland M. C., Brannon S. E., Howey D. S. Effects of self-generated rules on the development of schedule-controlled behavior. J Exp Anal Behav. 1992 Jul;58(1):107–121. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1992.58-107. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  43. WEISS B., LATIES V. G. Titration behavior on various fractional escape programs. J Exp Anal Behav. 1959 Jul;2:227–248. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1959.2-227. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  44. Wanchisen B. A., Tatham T. A., Mooney S. E. Variable-ratio conditioning history produces high- and low-rate fixed-interval performance in rats. J Exp Anal Behav. 1989 Sep;52(2):167–179. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1989.52-167. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  45. Zeiler M. D. The sleeping giant: Reinforcement schedules. J Exp Anal Behav. 1984 Nov;42(3):485–493. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1984.42-485. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis are provided here courtesy of Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior

RESOURCES