Sensitivity of Children's Behavior to Probabilistic Reward: Effects of a Decreasing-Ratio Lottery on Math Peformance

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Winter 2002

Abstract

Probabilistic reward has been shown to affect children's choice behavior in game-like activities. We examined the effects of a lottery system containing progressively lower exchange ratios on children's completion of math problems. Two of the 3 children completed problems above baseline levels until the chance of exchange dropped to 25%. This study describes a potentially useful method for examining reinforcement schedules in applied settings and extends previous research on probabilities of reinforcement.

Department

Psychology

Publication Title

Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis

DOI

10.1901/jaba.2002.35-403

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