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Effects of reinforcer choice measured in single-operant and concurrent-schedule procedures
A S Geckeler1, M E Libby, R B Graff
1The New England Center for Children and Northeastern University, Southborough, Massachusetts 01772, USA.
Insights
Children with autism showed higher response rates when offered a choice of reinforcers compared to no choice. This effect was observed specifically in concurrent-schedule procedures, not single-operant phases.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
Background:
- Understanding factors influencing reinforcement efficacy is crucial in behavioral interventions for autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
- Previous research has explored reinforcer effectiveness, but the specific impact of choice versus no choice on response rates in children with ASD requires further investigation.
- This study examines the role of choice in modifying operant responding within established behavioral procedures.
Observation:
- The study compared the effects of choice and no choice of reinforcer on the response rates of three children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
- Response rates were assessed using both single-operant and concurrent-schedule procedures to evaluate different behavioral contexts.
- Initial observations during single-operant phases did not reveal consistent differences in responding between conditions where reinforcer choice was available and where it was not.
Findings:
- During concurrent-schedule phases, a significant difference in responding emerged.
- All participants demonstrated substantially higher rates of responding towards the option that provided a choice among reinforcers.
- Conversely, responding to the option that did not offer a choice was considerably lower.
Implications:
- Offering choices of reinforcers may be a more effective strategy for increasing response rates in children with ASD within certain behavioral paradigms, particularly concurrent schedules.
- These findings suggest that incorporating choice-making opportunities into interventions could enhance engagement and motivation for individuals with autism.
- Further research should explore the generalizability of these findings across different populations and intervention settings.
Abstract:
The effects of choice and no choice of reinforcer on the response rates of 3 children with autism were compared across single-operant and concurrent-schedule procedures. No consistent differences in responding between choice and no-choice components emerged during single-operant phases. During the concurrent-schedule phases, however, all participants had substantially higher rates of responding to the button that led to a choice among reinforcers than to the button that did not lead to choice.