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Effects of stimulus variation, ratio contingency, and intermittent extinction on a child's incidental play for perceptual reinforcement

1966; Elsevier BV; Volume: 4; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/0022-0965(66)90026-9

1096-0457

Bernard Z. Friedlander,

Child and Animal Learning Development

A 5-year old boy (Binet IQ 152) played with an automated behavior-analysis toy in numerous “test” sessions as an incidental activity while his mother read stories to him in the family living room. She read only as long as he was interested in the stories. When she stopped reading, he stopped playing. The toy offered two response options, with concurrent independent reinforcement schedules, and a wide assortment of light-chime stimulus feedbacks. Data were recorded in 13 play-story sessions that ranged in length from 10 to 70 minutes. The boy made more than 8,800 responses and accumulated nearly 9,000 seconds of response duration in approximately 10 hours of play. His response record showed preference for the more varied feedback displays, a biphasic effect of ratio reinforcement, and rapid acquisition of stimulus control over response output during intermittent periods of extinction.