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AN EVALUATION OF METHYLPHENIDATE AS A POTENTIAL ESTABLISHING OPERATION FOR SOME COMMON CLASSROOM REINFORCERS
Author(s) -
Northup John,
Fusilier Iantha,
Swanson Victoria,
Roane Henry,
Borrero John
Publication year - 1997
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 - 10.1901/jaba.1997.30-615
Subject(s) - methylphenidate , psychology , reinforcement , placebo , attention deficit hyperactivity disorder , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , attention deficit disorder , attention deficit , psychiatry , medicine , social psychology , alternative medicine , pathology
We conducted reinforcer assessments for 3 boys with a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who alternately received either placebo or previously prescribed methylphenidate. Our purpose was to evaluate whether methylphenidate altered the relative reinforcing effectiveness of various stimuli that are often used in classroom‐based behavioral treatment programs (e.g., activities, tangible items). Results showed clear differences for some stimuli between reinforcer assessments conducted when participants had received methylphenidate compared to placebo. Results suggest that methylphenidate might act as an establishing operation for some common classroom reinforcers. Implications for the development and evaluation of behavioral treatments are discussed.