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

Authors

Brian K Martens
Scott P Ardoin
Alexandra M Hilt
Amanda L. Lannie, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic MedicineFollow
Carlos J Panahon
Laurie A Wolfe

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2002

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.

Publication Title

Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis

Volume

35

Issue

4

First Page

403

Last Page

406

PubMed ID

12555911

Comments

This article was published in Journal of applied behavior analysis, Volume 35, Issue 4, Pages 403-406.

The published version is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1901/jaba.2002.35-403.

Copyright © 2002.

Recommended Citation

Martens, Brian K; Ardoin, Scott P; Hilt, Alexandra M; Lannie, Amanda L.; Panahon, Carlos J; and Wolfe, Laurie A, "Sensitivity of Children's Behavior to Probabilistic Reward: Effects of a Decreasing-Ratio Lottery System on Math Performance" (2002). PCOM Scholarly Papers. 1822.
https://digitalcommons.pcom.edu/scholarly_papers/1822