Use of a concurrent operants paradigm to evaluate positive reinforcers during treatment of food refusal

Linda J Cooper; David P Wacker; Kimberly Brown; Jennifer J McComas; Stephanie M Peck; Janet Drew; Jennifer Asmus; Krista Kayser

doi:10.1177/0145445599231001

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Use of a concurrent operants paradigm to evaluate positive reinforcers during treatment of food refusal

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Use of a concurrent operants paradigm to evaluate positive reinforcers during treatment of food refusal

Linda J Cooper, David P Wacker, Kimberly Brown, Jennifer J McComas, Stephanie M Peck, Janet Drew, Jennifer Asmus and Krista Kayser

Behavior modification, Vol.23(1), pp.3-40

01/1999

DOI: 10.1177/0145445599231001

PMID: 9926520

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Abstract

The authors evaluated the responsiveness of 4 preschool-aged children to positive reinforcers within a concurrent operants paradigm during mealtimes. The children were presented with two identical, concurrently available sets of food. Each set differed in quantity and quality of positive reinforcement paired with acceptance of each bite of food or in the number of bites of food required to obtain positive reinforcement. Experiment 1 evaluated 1 child's responsiveness to positive reinforcement while permitting escape from bite offers. Experiment 2 evaluated 2 children's responsiveness to positive reinforcement when escape extinction occurred. Results from these experiments suggested that the children were responsive to positive reinforcers and chose more often the bites paired with the greater quantity and/or quality of reinforcement. Experiment 3 evaluated 1 child's responsiveness to positive reinforcement both without and with escape extinction. Results suggested that positive reinforcement affected choice behavior and that escape extinction affected amount of food consumed.

Reinforcement Schedule

Feeding and Eating Disorders - therapy

Humans

Reinforcement (Psychology)

Child, Preschool

Female

Male

Treatment Outcome

Child Development - physiology

Behavior Therapy - methods

Mother-Child Relations

Failure to Thrive - therapy

Details

Title: Subtitle: Use of a concurrent operants paradigm to evaluate positive reinforcers during treatment of food refusal
Creators: Linda J Cooper - University of Iowa, USA
David P Wacker
Kimberly Brown - University of Iowa
Jennifer J McComas
Stephanie M Peck
Janet Drew
Jennifer Asmus
Krista Kayser
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Behavior modification, Vol.23(1), pp.3-40
Publisher: United States
DOI: 10.1177/0145445599231001
PMID: 9926520
ISSN: 0145-4455
eISSN: 1552-4167
Language: English
Date published: 01/1999
Academic Unit: Pediatric Psychology; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Psychological and Quantitative Foundations
Record Identifier: 9983993337802771

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20 Times Cited - Web of Science