Effectiveness of Differential Reinforcement as a Function of past Reinforcement and Present Schedule

Abstract

The effectiveness of three techniques in reducing lever-pressing behavior was studied as a function of past reinforcement history and present schedule of reinforcement. 30 children (mean age 5 yr., 10 mo.) with average abilities were reinforced for tapping an assigned key on either a differential reinforcement of low rates (drl 10″) or a differential reinforcement of high rates (conjunctive VR 21 drh 4.5″) schedule of reinforcement. The children were subsequently reinforced for responding on an alternate key on a variable ratio (VR 32) schedule while the previous response was either placed on extinction or maintained with the continuance of reinforcement. Findings indicated that divergent reinforcement histories can influence later responding. Although the three differential reinforcement techniques tended to have differing effects in reducing the old response, the differences were nonsignificant.