Children’s reactions to nonreward: Partial vs continuous reinforcement using a within-subjects design

Abstract

A within-Ss design was used in which each of 40 first grade children made 20 instrumental lever pulling responses to each of two stimuli (S100 and S50)' All responses associated with S100 and 50% of the responses associated with S50 were reinforced. Faster lever movement speeds were found on S50 relative to S100 trials. Implications of frustration theory for these results were contrasted with similar findings in studies using a between-Ss design.