The present study used a Microsoft Visual Basic computer program to examine the effects of changing reinforcement schedule components on response allocation following previously extinguished responding. In Experiment 1, participants allocated responses to three different colored buttons that moved around the screen after each successive click. Components were arranged such that clicking on one button resulted in reinforcer delivery on a programmed variable-interval (VI) 10 s schedule while clicking either of the other two buttons did not result in programmed reinforcer deliveries. Results of Experiment 1 may have been confounded by an unintended signaling of component changes, so an identical experiment was repeated without a point counter visible to the participants. The results of Experiment 2 indicated an induced responding on the button most recently associated with reinforcement when the reinforcement schedule changed. This induction effect is discussed in relation to current conceptions of relapse effects in the scientific literature and implications for treatment of challenging behavior.

A large-scale intervention, designed to increase healthier fast-food consumption, was evaluated at a national fast-food chain. Participants included fast-food consumers at three separate restaurant locations in southwestern Virginia. Each restaurant received three phases, consisting of fourteen days each. Two of the restaurants were exposed to two conditions, A (Baseline) and B (Intervention), while the other restaurant served as a control. Restaurant 1 received the following phases, with each phase lasting two weeks: A--B--A. Restaurant 2 received A--A--B, and Restaurant 3 received A--A--A. Research assistants distributed discount coupons on a new healthy sandwich to consumers during Condition B in Restaurants 2 & 3. This sandwich was available in a healthy combo including salad and water, and a regular combo including soda and fries. At all 3 locations, research assistants collected receipts showing all total menu item sales every day during the six-week intervention. Analyses of variance revealed consumers purchased the healthy sandwich significantly more during the incentive conditions, and also purchased the regular combo more frequently than the healthier combo during the intervention condition. Implications for the social validity of using incentives to motivate nutrition-related behaviors are discussed. / Master of Science

This study sought to assess the effects of pairing a neutral stimulus with a reprimand contingent on occurrences of two topographies of problem behavior. Using a multiple baseline withdrawal with a nested multi-element design, contingencies were first applied to eye poking and, subsequently, to a second behavior, skin picking. In each case, the participant wore wristbands (a previously neutral stimulus) during treatment sessions. Results indicated that the reprimands were effective in decreasing both behaviors. In addition, when skin picking resulted in reprimands, eye poking also decreased. However, when reprimands were contingent on eye-poking, the effects did not appear to generalize to skin-picking. Some possible accounts for this asymmetrical pattern of generalization are discussed.