The effects of pairing non -preferred staff with preferred stimuli on increasing reinforcing value of non -preferred staff attention
Item
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Title
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The effects of pairing non -preferred staff with preferred stimuli on increasing reinforcing value of non -preferred staff attention
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Identifier
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d_2009_2013:3b10fb4be905:10359
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identifier
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10535
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Creator
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Jerome, Jared,
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Contributor
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Peter Sturmey
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Date
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2010
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Behavioral psychology
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Abstract
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Establishing staff attention as a secondary reinforcer increases the amount of time individuals with intellectual disabilities will engage in on-task behavior when working with these staff; however, increasing the reinforcing value of staff attention by pairing it with primary reinforcing stimuli is an area of research that has not frequently been addressed. In Study 1, three residents aged 42 to 56 years and diagnosed with intellectual disabilities participated in verbal and pictorial preference assessments for staff members. All three residents showed preferences. The experimenter then validated these preferences by instructing the preferred and non-preferred staff to deliver verbal praise and a high five on a progressive-ratio schedule contingent on the completion of socially relevant tasks. All three residents demonstrated higher break points and rates of approach responses when they were attended to by their preferred staff compared to when they were attended to by their non-preferred staff. In Study 2, before each baseline session, non-preferred staff approached the residents on a VT 1 min schedule without presenting any tangible stimuli; break points and approach responses remained unchanged from Study 1. Before each intervention session, non-preferred staff approached the residents on a VT 1 min schedule while presenting them with preferred tangible stimuli. Break points and resident-rate-of-approach responses increased when they worked for attention from their non-preferred staff, but remained unchanged with their preferred staff. A pairing procedure was successful in improving the relationships between residents and previously non-preferred staff.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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2009_2013.csv
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degree
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Ph.D.
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Program
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Psychology
