Date of Award
12-1985
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Dr. Richard W. Malott
Second Advisor
Dr. Jack Michael
Third Advisor
Dr. Norman Peterson
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Open Access
Abstract
The control exerted by different types of rules on the behavior of preschool children was determined. Using a variation of a multielement design, four topographically similar rules were presented to seven four-year-old children. The rules varied in the deadlines and delay of consequences (rewards) specified. The results showed that: (a) requests or mands specifying only response requirements generally exerted poor control; (b) rules specifying an immediate deadline and an immediate reward exerted strong control; (c) rules specifying deadlines and a one-week delay of the reward exerted good control; and (d) rules specifying no deadlines for completion and a one-week delay of the reward exerted very little control over behavior. Differences in the control exerted by the rules were due to the varying degrees of development of seven prerequisites.
Recommended Citation
Braam, Cassandra Ann, "Rule-Governed Behavior in Preschool Children" (1985). Masters Theses. 1363.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/1363