On Tue, 31 Oct 2000, Kirsten Rewey wrote:
>
> Stephen -
>
> I'm not an expert in learning, but I think Domjan (1998) has answered the
> question for you. In his text he states that Jenkins (1962) and Theios (1962)
> independently tested the effects of CRF after partial reinforcement (PRF) on
> time to extinguish a behavior. Here are the basics of the design:
>
> Group 1: PRF -> CRF -> Extinction
>
> Group 2: CRF -> CRF -> Extinction
>
> Both Jenkins and Theios found that extinction (to criterion) took longer in
> Group 1 (with early experience with PRF and recent experience with CRF) than
> in Group 2 (with no PRF experience).
>
Thanks, Kirsten but that's not the comparison I'm after
(confusing, I know). It's
Group 2 PRF -> CRF -> Extinction
Group 2 PRF -> Extinction
It's really an applied psychology question. Suppose you have
an antsy kid who tantrums whenever he doesn't get his way. The
parents are inconsistent, and sometimes they give in, sometimes
not (intermittent reinforcement).
You want to make the kid behave. Which would do it faster:
1) first give in to every tantrum (switch to crf), and then
begin extinction
or
2) begin extinction immediately
Common sense says that (2) is the only way to go but
Miltenberger recommends (1) based on the literature he cites.
-Stephen
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen Black, Ph.D. tel: (819) 822-9600 ext 2470
Department of Psychology fax: (819) 822-9661
Bishop's University e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Lennoxville, QC
J1M 1Z7
Canada Department web page at http://www.ubishops.ca/ccc/div/soc/psy
Check out TIPS listserv for teachers of psychology at:
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