Date of Award
12-2008
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Dr. R. Wayne Fuqua
Second Advisor
Dr. Cynthia Pietras
Third Advisor
Dr. James Carr
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Campus Only
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to compare interval and full-session Differential Reinforcement of Low Rates (DRL) procedures to determine if one procedure is more effective at reducing high rate behaviors and maintaining those behaviors at a lower rate. This is an important question because previous research supports the use of both procedures in applied settings; however, full-session DRL is much easier to implement than interval DRL. If both procedures are found to be equally effective, then use of the procedure that is easier to implement would be recommended.
This study was conducted in an analog setting with four typically developing preschool children. An analog setting was chosen for this study so that the experimenter could have control over variables that are sometimes hard or impossible to control when research is conducted in the natural environment. An ABACA reversal design, with the presentation of conditions counterbalanced across participants, was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the two DRL procedures. The results, while preliminary, indicate that both procedures are equally effective at reducing high rates and maintaining low rates of behavior.
Recommended Citation
Almason, Season M., "A Comparison of the Effectiveness of Interval and Full-Session Differential Reinforcement of Low Rates Procedures with Preschool Children" (2008). Masters Theses. 188.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/188