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Central Washington University

Theses/Dissertations

Reinforcement (Psychology)

Articles 1 - 8 of 8

Full-Text Articles in Psychology

Verbal Conditioning With Vicarious Reinforcement As Related To Peer Attitudes In Grade-School Children, Margaret Mccutcheon Lauterbach Aug 1968

Verbal Conditioning With Vicarious Reinforcement As Related To Peer Attitudes In Grade-School Children, Margaret Mccutcheon Lauterbach

All Master's Theses

The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of peer attitudes toward performers in a verbal conditioning experiment using vicarious reinforcement, and to determine whether birth order or need for social approval had any effect on conditioning. Fifth grade and sixth grade students served as subjects, with performers (those to be directly reinforced) from the same grades as the observers.


An Experimental Analysis Of Superstitious Behavior In College Males, Nancy Alice Metzler Jun 1968

An Experimental Analysis Of Superstitious Behavior In College Males, Nancy Alice Metzler

All Master's Theses

The possibility that superstitious responses would occur when aversive stimulation was randomly presented was investigated. There were three groups of 20 male introductory psychology students each. The Shock Group (SG) was given 45 unavoidable shocks. The Reinforcement Shock Group {RSG) was given 100 positive reinforcements and then 45 unavoidable shocks. The Reinforcement Punishment Group received 100 positive reinforcements and then 45 response contingent shocks and served to test the effectiveness of the shock as a punishing stimulus. Superstitious responses seemed to occur, but Ss of SG showed response patterns typical of punishment, while Ss of RSG showed increases in rates …


The Relative Effect Of Time Of Reinforcement And Pre-Reinforcement Activity On The Learning Of Meaningful Verbal Material, Daisuke Bill Nakashima Aug 1967

The Relative Effect Of Time Of Reinforcement And Pre-Reinforcement Activity On The Learning Of Meaningful Verbal Material, Daisuke Bill Nakashima

All Master's Theses

The present study was designed to compare the relative effects on learning and retention of (1) time of reinforcement, (2) pre-reinforcement activity, and (3) the interaction of the temporal interval and activity. The hoped-for criterion was the retention of six principles.


The Effect Of Continuous – And Partial Reinforcement On The Choice Behavior Of Rats, Philip S. Hall Aug 1967

The Effect Of Continuous – And Partial Reinforcement On The Choice Behavior Of Rats, Philip S. Hall

All Master's Theses

The research presented in this paper is primarily concerned with the difficulties imposed on the Hull-Spence learning theory by the effects of partial reinforcement on response acquisition.


The Effectiveness Of The Presentation And Removal Of Money As Reward And Punishment In A Paired-Associate-Constant Order Learning Task, John B. Baughman Aug 1967

The Effectiveness Of The Presentation And Removal Of Money As Reward And Punishment In A Paired-Associate-Constant Order Learning Task, John B. Baughman

All Master's Theses

This type of research is believed to be important because of the implications it would seem to have for educational techniques. For example, a program could be instituted at the high school level whereby students would be rewarded with money for maintaining a certain academic standard but punished by the removal of a portion of this money for dropping below that standard. This technique might, in addition to facilitating their learning, act as a motivator in keeping them in school since many students drop out in order to make some money.


The Effect Of Shifts In Reward Magnitude And Changes Of Schedule Of Reinforcement On Resistance To Extinction, Richard James Boylan Aug 1967

The Effect Of Shifts In Reward Magnitude And Changes Of Schedule Of Reinforcement On Resistance To Extinction, Richard James Boylan

All Master's Theses

The problem concerned the resistance to extinction of an alley running response as a function of various combinations of reward sizes (l or 10 pellets) and schedules of reinforcement (50 or 100%). Three experimental phases were used (acquisition, shift of reward, and extinction). Three measures were taken in the alley (start, alley, and goal speed). Animals trained under partial reinforcement (PRF) showed no significant differences in acquisition running speed over animals trained on continuous reinforcement (CRF). Depression effects (decreases in running speed) were observed for both CRF and PRF trained animals during the shift phase. Overall tests between PRF and …


The Relative Efficiency Of Auditory (Social) Reinforcement Vs. Food Reinforcement With The Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri Sciureus) In An Operant Situation, David R. Mcmurray Jun 1967

The Relative Efficiency Of Auditory (Social) Reinforcement Vs. Food Reinforcement With The Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri Sciureus) In An Operant Situation, David R. Mcmurray

All Master's Theses

Research using non-deprivation and sensory or food reinforcement has received little attention to the present time. It is possible that, at least in the laboratory, sensory reinforcement under non- deprived conditions may be a much more economical and efficient reinforcer than food reinforcement under deprived conditions, which is traditionally used.


Effects Of Delay Of Reinforcement On Problem Solving Behavior, Verne R. Bacharach Dec 1966

Effects Of Delay Of Reinforcement On Problem Solving Behavior, Verne R. Bacharach

All Master's Theses

This study was designed to investigate the effects of delay of feedback in a programmed instruction task, retention, and subsequent problem solving behavior. The instructional material in symbolic logic was specifically presented in such a way as to introduce certain basic logical concepts and mechanical procedures in a logically coherent body of knowledge.