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THE EFFECTS OF PRESESSION EXPOSURE TO ATTENTION ON THE RESULTS OF ASSESSMENTS OF ATTENTION AS A REINFORCER
Author(s) -
Berg Wendy K.,
Peck Stephanie,
Wacker David P.,
Harding Jay,
McComas Jennifer,
Richman David,
Brown Kimberly
Publication year - 2000
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.2000.33-463
Subject(s) - psychology , reinforcement , extinction (optical mineralogy) , preference , developmental psychology , cognitive psychology , social psychology , statistics , paleontology , mathematics , biology
The effects of presession exposure to attention on responding during subsequent assessments of attention as a reinforcer were evaluated across three behavioral assessments. In Experiment 1, a contingent attention assessment condition was preceded by either a noncontingent attention condition (free play) or a contingent escape condition. In Experiment 2, a diverted attention with extinction condition was preceded by either an alone or a free‐play condition. In Experiment 3, a two‐choice preference assessment was preceded by either 10 min of free play or 10 min of playing alone. In each experiment, the participant responded differentially within the test condition according to the presence or absence of dense schedules of attention immediately prior to that condition. The results of this study show that events occurring immediately prior to an assessment condition can influence behavior within the assessment.