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Social and Behavioral Sciences

Graduate Theses

Positive Reinforcement

Publication Year

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Full-Text Articles in Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms

The Effects Of Two Models Of Positive Feedback Of Children's Motivation, Judith Margaret Lynch May 1994

The Effects Of Two Models Of Positive Feedback Of Children's Motivation, Judith Margaret Lynch

Graduate Theses

The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether the type of written or verbal positive comment regarding a child's accomplishment influences subsequent interest in a task. A preliminary investigation of literature revealed that often rewards and praise negatively alter children's behavior. The writer tested the hypothesis derived from this investigation that non- evaluative descriptive comments, commonly called encouragement, positively affect children more than evaluative praise comments. 32 kindergarten and 36 third grade children received evaluative praise comments and 31 kindergarten and 42 third grade children received non- evaluative descriptive comments on drawings for three days. The fourth day, children …


The Effects Of Three Schedules Of Reinforcement On Stimulus Generalization, John L. Sanders Aug 1983

The Effects Of Three Schedules Of Reinforcement On Stimulus Generalization, John L. Sanders

Graduate Theses

The effects of three schedules of reinforcement on stimulus generalization in rats were investigated. In the presence of a 2000 hz tone the subjects were trained to bar press on one of three schedules: CRF, VR 25, or VR 50. Three animals started in each condition. After tone/no-tone discrimination training they were tested for generalization. Generalization took.place over six,31.5 minute sessions. This tested the subjects* response rate to each of seven tones: 250 hz, 500 hz, 1000, hz, 2000 hz, 4000 hz, 8000 hz, and 16000 hz. During a 31.5 minute generalization test every tone was presented randomly nine times …


The Effect Of Interpolated Continuous Reinforcement Following Variable Ratio Reinforcement On Resistance To Extinction, Christine Miara Aug 1983

The Effect Of Interpolated Continuous Reinforcement Following Variable Ratio Reinforcement On Resistance To Extinction, Christine Miara

Graduate Theses

The effect on response rates during extinction of interpolating seven continuous reinforcement sessions after varying numbers of VR-25 sessions was investigated. Rats received either seven, fourteen, or twenty-one sessions of a VR-25 schedule followed by seven sessions of continuous reinforcement. There were three rats in each group. The rats then experienced seven sessions of extinction. All sessions were 30 minutes long." The results showed that rats that received the VR-25 schedule for 21 sessions made the roost responses over the seven extinction sessions. * Rats that received seven sessions of VR-25 made the least number of responses during extinction. The …


Relationship Between Attribution And Conditions Of Reward In Children, Rhonda Miles May 1981

Relationship Between Attribution And Conditions Of Reward In Children, Rhonda Miles

Graduate Theses

Thirty-eight third grade students were given the Intellectual Achievement Responsibility (lAR) Questionaire in order to determine their internal and external attribution scores. From those scores, 28 subjects were chosen to test the hypothesis by performing two separate but related tasks under the conditions of self-and external rewards. A correlation using the Pearson Product- Moment Correlation Coefficient was computed in order to determine the relation between the subject's attribution level and performance under different conditions of reward. The results showed a higher relationship between attribution and self-reward when self-reward followed external reward. A Chi square test was also computed to determine …


Patterning Of The Electromyographic Response On A Simple Verbal Conditioning Task, Truman G. Reid May 1981

Patterning Of The Electromyographic Response On A Simple Verbal Conditioning Task, Truman G. Reid

Graduate Theses

Twenty-four subjects from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin volunteered to participate in an experiment designed to determine if patterning of EMG responses occur when recorded from the Frontalis, or the Flexors of the preferred arm on a paired-associate verbal conditioning task. Six groups of four subjects each were provided either positive, negative reinforcement, or no reinforcement depending on their respective group. Groups one (PRF), and three (PRA) were positive reinforcement groups. Groups two (NRF), and four (NRA) were provided negative reinforcement. Groups five and six were control groups. Positive and negative reinforcement con sisted of subjects being …


The Effects Of Fixed-Ratio And Fixed-Interval Schedules Of Reinforcement On Generalization Gradients, Christy L. Sutton Aug 1979

The Effects Of Fixed-Ratio And Fixed-Interval Schedules Of Reinforcement On Generalization Gradients, Christy L. Sutton

Graduate Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of fixed-ratio and fixed-interval schedules of reinforcement on generalization gradients. The subjects were four female rats from the Fischer strain. All subjects v/ere conditioned in the presence of a 2000 hz tone to press the bar for reinforcement. Each subject was then trained to one of the following-schedules of reinforcement: FR-5, FR-30, FI-5, or FI-30. After maintenance on this terminal schedule for three days the subjects were tested for generalization. The generalization test consisted of variations in the frequency of the original SD. Response rate was recorded and gradients of …