Date of Award
8-1982
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Dr. R. Wayne Fuqua
Second Advisor
Dr. Alan Poling
Third Advisor
Dr. Jack Michael
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Open Access
Abstract
The primary goals of this study were: (1) to determine if interim behaviors occur with humans responding under intermittent schedules of reinforcement; -and, (2) if interim behaviors do occur, to compare the characteristics of those behaviors with the characteristics of adjunctive behavior in nonhumans. Two developmentally disabled males, ages 15 and 19, served as subjects. The subjects pressed a white panel for food, tokens and plastic objects under several schedules of reinforcement. The response rate on the white panel and the duration of interim behaviors that occurred during the inter-reinforcement intervals was measured using standard electro-mechanical equipment. All behaviors were observed by the experimenter via closed circuit television in an adjacent observation room. The results showed that although interim behaviors did occur for both subjects, they did not possess any of the characteristics of adjunctive behavior that have been observed with nonhumans.
Recommended Citation
Hearn, Kenneth L., "The Effects of Intermittent Schedules of Reinforcement on the Generation of Adjunctive Behavior in Humans" (1982). Masters Theses. 1690.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/1690