Martens B K, Lochner D G, Kelly S Q
Department of Psychology, Syracuse University, New York 13244-2340.
J Appl Behav Anal. 1992 Spring;25(1):143-51. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1992.25-143.
The single-alternative form of the matching law has enjoyed extensive support in laboratory research with both animals and humans. However, few data exist concerning its validity as a description of behavior in applied settings. In Experiment 1, 2 fourth-grade students were exposed to variable-interval schedules of social reinforcement contingent on academic engagement. The data for each subject were then plotted via Herrnstein's equation. The results showed Herrnstein's equation to account for 99.1% and 87.6% of the variance in student engagement, respectively. In Experiment 2, control over student engagement by two of the reinforcement schedules was examined further within an alternating treatments design with similar results. The implications of these findings for linking experimental and applied behavior analysis are discussed.
匹配定律的单选项形式在针对动物和人类的实验室研究中得到了广泛支持。然而，关于其作为应用场景中行为描述的有效性的数据却很少。在实验1中，2名四年级学生接触了根据学业参与情况而定的可变间隔社会强化计划。然后通过赫尔斯坦方程绘制每个受试者的数据。结果显示，赫尔斯坦方程分别解释了学生参与度方差的99.1%和87.6%。在实验2中，在交替处理设计中进一步检验了其中两种强化计划对学生参与度的控制，结果相似。讨论了这些发现对连接实验性和应用性行为分析的意义。
