Neurobehavioral Unit, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.
J Appl Behav Anal. 2011 Fall;44(3):543-58. doi: 10.1901/jaba.2011.44-543.
This study examined how the amount of effort required to produce a reinforcer influenced subsequent preference for, and strength of, that reinforcer in 7 individuals with intellectual disabilities. Preference assessments identified four moderately preferred stimuli for each participant, and progressive-ratio (PR) analyses indexed reinforcer strength. Stimuli were then assigned to one of four conditions for 4 weeks: fixed-ratio (FR) 1 schedule, escalating FR schedule, yoked noncontingent (NCR) delivery, and restricted access. Preference assessments and PR schedules were then repeated to examine changes in selection percentages and PR break points. Selection percentages decreased for all NCR stimuli but increased for most of the restricted stimuli. There were no systematic changes in selection percentages for either of the contingent stimuli. Break points increased, on average, for all conditions, but the increase was highest for the restricted stimuli and lowest for the NCR stimuli. These results are discussed in relation to recent basic research addressing the influence of effort on stimulus value.
本研究考察了产生强化物所需的努力程度如何影响 7 名智障个体对该强化物的后续偏好和强度。偏好评估为每位参与者确定了四个中等偏好的刺激物，而递增比率（PR）分析则对强化物的强度进行了指标化。然后，将刺激物分配到四个条件下进行 4 周的实验：固定比率（FR）1 方案、递增 FR 方案、对偶非连续（NCR）交付和受限访问。然后重复偏好评估和 PR 方案，以检查选择百分比和 PR 断点的变化。所有 NCR 刺激物的选择百分比都下降了，但大多数受限刺激物的选择百分比都增加了。对于任何一种条件刺激物，选择百分比都没有系统的变化。所有条件的断点平均都增加了，但受限刺激物的增加幅度最高，NCR 刺激物的增加幅度最低。这些结果与最近的基础研究有关，该研究探讨了努力对刺激价值的影响。
