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Effects of reinforcer magnitude and distribution on preference for work schedules
Author(s) -
WardHorner John C.,
Pittenger Alexis,
Pace Gary,
Fienup Daniel M.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of applied behavior analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1938-3703
pISSN - 0021-8855
DOI - 10.1002/jaba.133
Subject(s) - reinforcement , preference , magnitude (astronomy) , psychology , work (physics) , developmental psychology , social psychology , statistics , mathematics , physics , astronomy , mechanical engineering , engineering
When the overall magnitude of reinforcement is matched between 2 alternative work schedules, some students prefer to complete all of their work for continuous access to a reinforcer (continuous work) rather than distributed access to a reinforcer while they work (discontinuous work). We evaluated a student's preference for continuous work by manipulating the overall magnitude of reinforcement associated with continuous work. Preference for continuous work persisted despite a 20% decrease in reinforcer magnitude; however, a 40% decrease in reinforcer magnitude produced a shift in preference to discontinuous work.