Abstract
This study investigated the effects of arranging task events for interdependence, to increase the probability of social responding. During task interdependence, the subjects, participating in dyads and a four-person group, obtained task materials (a puzzle piece) from their partner before completing their task (appropriately placing the puzzle piece). The verbal contingency required a verbal request to precede a subject's receiving a task material from his partner. The verbal contingency yoked with task interdependence made task completion contingent on the appropriate verbalization. The findings from two experiments suggested that task interdependence was sufficient to increase partner-directed verbalizations for three of the four subjects. When the verbal contingency was added, all subjects increased their requests and other verbalizations to partner. Applied to a four-person group, the verbal contingency yoked with varying levels of task interdependence correspondingly affected the pattern and level of group communications. The greater the task interdependence, i.e., the more members each subject depended on to complete his task, the more complex the social network of verbal contacts, and the higher the level of both requests and other verbalizations for the group.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- ALLEN K. E., HART B., BUELL J. S., HARRIS F. R., WOLF M. M. EFFECTS OF SOCIAL REINFORCEMENT ON ISOLATE BEHAVIOR OF A NURSERY SCHOOL CHILD. Child Dev. 1964 Jun;35:511–518. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.1964.tb05188.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Charlesworth R., Hartup W. W. Positive social reinforecement in the nursery school peer group. Child Dev. 1967 Dec;38(4):993–1002. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Drabman R., Spitalnik R., Spitalnik K. Sociometric and disruptive behavior as a function of four types of token reinforcement programs. J Appl Behav Anal. 1974 Spring;7(1):93–101. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1974.7-93. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hake D. F., Vukelich R. A classification and review of cooperation procedures. J Exp Anal Behav. 1972 Sep;18(2):333–343. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1972.18-333. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hart B. M., Reynolds N. J., Baer D. M., Brawley E. R., Harris F. R. Effect of contingent and non-contingent social reinforcement on the cooperative play of a preschool child. J Appl Behav Anal. 1968 Spring;1(1):73–76. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1968.1-73. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kirby F. D., Toler H. C. Modification of preschool isolate behavior: a case study. J Appl Behav Anal. 1970 Winter;3(4):309–314. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1970.3-309. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Mithaug D. E., Burgess R. L. The effects of different reinforcement contingencies in the development of social cooperation. J Exp Child Psychol. 1968 Sep;6(3):402–426. doi: 10.1016/0022-0965(68)90122-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- SHURE M. B. PSYCHOLOGICAL ECOLOGY OF A NURSERY SCHOOL. Child Dev. 1963 Dec;34:979–992. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.1963.tb05168.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Wahler R. G. Child-child interactions in free field settings: some experimental analyses. J Exp Child Psychol. 1967 Jun;5(2):278–293. doi: 10.1016/0022-0965(67)90013-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Whitman T. L., Mercurio J. R., Caponigri V. Development of social responses in two severely retarded children. J Appl Behav Anal. 1970 Summer;3(2):133–138. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1970.3-133. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]