Effects of a History of Differential Reinforcement on Preference for Choice
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Psychology
Date
3-2011
Abstract
The effects of a history of differential reinforcement for selecting a free-choice versus a restricted-choice stimulus arrangement on the subsequent responding of 7 undergraduates in a computer-based game of chance were examined using a concurrent-chains arrangement and a multiple-baseline-across-participants design. In the free-choice arrangement, participants selected three numbers, in any order, from an array of eight numbers presented on the computer screen. In the restricted-choice arrangement, participants selected the order of three numbers preselected from the array of eight by a computer program. In initial sessions, all participants demonstrated no consistent preference or preference for restricted choice. Differential reinforcement of free-choice selections resulted in increased preference for free choice immediately and in subsequent sessions in the absence of programmed differential outcomes. For 5 participants, changes in preference for choice were both robust and lasting, suggesting that a history of differential reinforcement for choice may affect preference for choice.
Recommended Citation
Karsina, Allen; Thompson, Rachel H.; and Rodriguez, Nicole M., "Effects of a History of Differential Reinforcement on Preference for Choice" (2011). Student Work - College of Arts and Sciences. 65.
https://digitalcommons.wne.edu/casstudent/65
Original Citation
Karsina, A., Thompson, R. H. & Rodriguez, N. M. (2011). Effects of a history of differential reinforcement on preference for choice. Journal of Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 95, 189–202. https://doi.org/10.1901/jeab.2011.95-189
