Faculty Articles
Effects of Problem Difficulty and Reinforcer Quality on Time Allocated To Concurrent Arithmetic Problems
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis
ISSN
0021-8855
Publication Date
Spring 1996
Abstract
Students with learning difficulties participated in two studies that analyzed the effects of problem difficulty and reinforcer quality upon time allocated to two sets of arithmetic problems reinforced according to a concurrent variable-interval 30-s variable-interval 120-s schedule. In Study 1, high- and low-difficulty arithmetic problems were systematically combined with rich and lean concurrent schedules (nickels used as reinforcers) across conditions using a single-subject design. The pairing of the high-difficulty problems with the richer schedule failed to offset time allocated to that alternative. Study 2 investigated the interactive effects of problem difficulty and reinforcer quality (nickels vs. program money) upon time allocation to arithmetic problems maintained by the concurrent schedules of reinforcement. Unlike problem difficulty, the pairing of the lesser quality reinforcer (program money) with the richer schedule reduced the time allocated to that alternative. The magnitude of this effect was greatest when combined with the low-difficulty problems. These studies have important implications for a matching law analysis of asymmetrical reinforcement variables that influence time allocation.
DOI
10.1901/jaba.1996.29-11
Volume
29
Issue
1
First Page
11
Last Page
24
NSUWorks Citation
Mace, F. C.,
Neef, N. A.,
Shade, D.,
Mauro, B. C.
(1996). Effects of Problem Difficulty and Reinforcer Quality on Time Allocated To Concurrent Arithmetic Problems. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 29(1), 11-24.
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_facarticles/367
