A Comparison of Points Versus Sounds as Reinforces in Human Operant Research

• Main Author: Rouse, Susan L.
• Other Authors: Rosales-Ruiz, Jesus
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: University of North Texas 1999
• Subjects: operant behavior; reinforcement; Reinforcement (Psychology); Operant behavior.; Operant conditioning.
• Online Access: https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc278951/

Research shows that human operant behavior typically differs from non-human operant behavior on schedules of reinforcement. These differences in performance may be related to differences between the experimental preparations used to study human and non-human operant behavior. One such difference is the type of reinforcer used. This experiment analyzed the differential effects of points alone, points backed up by money, and sounds on schedule performance of human subjects. Results show that sounds generated moderate rates of responding, capable of change in either direction. When points backed up with money were the reinforcers, however, high rates of behavior were generated, disrupting the previously established baseline performance. This suggests that while points may be effective in generating high rates of behavior, they may be ineffective in producing sensitive baselines needed to study human operant behavior on schedules of reinforcement.