Abstract
Drug abstinence studies indicate that escalating reinforcement schedules maintain abstinence for longer periods than fixed reinforcement schedules. The current study evaluated whether escalating reinforcement schedules would maintain more quiz taking than fixed reinforcement schedules. During baseline and for the control group, bonus points were distributed on random days for attending class. Following baseline, students in the fixed reinforcement section received 5 bonus points for each quiz completed while students in the escalating reinforcement received 3 bonus points for the first quiz with an increase of 0 or 1 point for each consecutive quiz completed. Results indicated that the escalating reinforcement schedule maintained quiz taking significantly longer than the fixed reinforcement schedule. The control group took the fewest number of quizzes. Students with good attendance took significantly more quizzes under the escalating reinforcement schedule than students with good attendance exposed to the fixed reinforcement schedule or control condition. This study demonstrates a potential novel application for escalating reinforcement schedules. Results indicate that escalating reinforcement schedules may be successfully applied to academic settings, but more research is needed.
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Appendix
Appendix
Posted Reminder for all Groups During Baseline
Reminder: You will earn bonus points for attendance on random class days. If you are in attendance on a random day that was selected at the beginning of the term, you will earn 5 bonus points.
Posted Reminder for Escalating Reinforcement Group
Reminder: You now earn bonus points for taking the weekly quiz by the due date and time. The more quizzes you take in a row the more bonus points you can earn. If you have more than two absences, you will not get access to the quizzes. It goes like this:
If you complete 1 in a row: 3 points |
If you complete 2 in a row: 3 points |
If you complete 3 in a row: 4 points |
If you complete 4 in a row: 4 points |
if you complete 5 in a row: 5 points |
If you complete 6 in a row: 6 points |
If you complete 7 in a row: 7 points |
If you complete 8 in a row: 8 points |
So if you take Quiz 1 and Quiz 2 you are set to earn 4 bonus points for taking Quiz 3.
Posted Reminder for Fixed Reinforcement Group
Reminder: You now earn bonus points for taking the quizzes. You will earn 5 bonus points for each quiz completed by the due date and time.
Posted Reminder for Control Group
Reminder: You continue to earn bonus points for attendance on random class days. If you are in attendance on a bonus day that was selected at the beginning of the term, you will earn 5 bonus points.
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Mahoney, A. A Comparison of Escalating Versus Fixed Reinforcement Schedules on Undergraduate Quiz Taking. J Behav Educ 26, 264–276 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10864-017-9268-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10864-017-9268-5