O efeito da consequência programada sobre a estabilidade da taxa de respostas em FI

Abstract

Palavras ABSTRACTThe baseline performance in single case designs serves of parameter for experimental decisions (for example, the moment to introduce the experimental variables) and as a prediction of future performance. In these designs, statistic control is replaced by experimental. Thus, behavior has to reach some degree of stability -it would indicate that observed behavior would not be affected by foreign variables to the experimental procedure. Some authors assert that the stringency of the quantitative stability criteria is directly influenced by response rates. Some studies suggest that the type of reinforcer can have an effect on the response rates of humans in FI. Therefore, could the stability criterion of response rate be reached more or less quickly depending on the type of reinforcer? The purpose of this research was (a) verify if the type of reinforcer scheduled for humans in FI would have effect on the time required to reach a quantitative stability criterion; (b) verify if the stability, defined by the criterion, would be maintained after been reached and (c) evaluate human behavior in FI, along a extended exposure, depending on the type of reinforcer. Seventeen undergraduate students, both sexes, were designated to one of two conditions with different reinforcers (G1-points exchangeable for money and G2-points non-exchangeable for Money) and exposed to a FI 30s for a 10 hours period (20 sessions of 30 minutes). The software ProgRef v3.1 was used for data collection. The results indicated that the response rates of G1 participants were high in the initial sessions, but tended to reduce along the exposition to the FI. The response rates were low for the majority of the G2 participants, with high response rate periods. These results suggest that the programmed consequences are not enough to affect the number of sessions required to reach the stability criterion, though its maintenance seems to be affected by this variable.