Skip to main content
Log in

Response cost, reinforcement, and children's porteus maze qualitative performance

  • Published:
Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Sixty fourth-grade children were given two different series of the Porteus Maze Test. The first series was given as a baseline, and the second series was administered under one of four different experimental conditions: control, response cost, positive reinforcement, or negative verbal feedback. Response cost and positive reinforcement, but not negative verbal feedback, led to significant decreases in the number of all types of qualitative errors in relation to the control group. The reduction of nontargeted as well as targeted errors provides evidence for the generalized effects of response cost and positive reinforcement.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bena, T. (1980).Response cost and impulsive word recognition errors in reading disabled and normal children. Unpublished honors thesis, University of Iowa.

  • Brent, D. E., & Routh, D. K. (1978). Response cost and impulsive word recognition errors in reading-disabled children.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 6, 211–219.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burchard, J. D., & Barrera, F. (1972). An analysis of timeout and response cost in a programmed environment.Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 5, 271–282.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buss, A. H., Braden, W., Orgel, A., & Buss, E. H. (1956). Acquisition and extinction with different verbal reinforcement combinations.Journal of Experimental Psychology, 52, 288–295.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buss, A. H., & Buss, E. H. (1956). The effect of verbal reinforcement combinations on conceptual learning.Journal of Experimental Psychology, 52, 283–287.

    Google Scholar 

  • Docter, R. F., & Winder, C. L. (1954). Delinquent vs. nondelinquent performance on the Porteus Qualitative Maze Test.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 18, 71–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Errickson, E. A., Wyne, M. D., & Routh, D. K. (1973). A response-cost procedure for reduction of impulsive behavior of academically handicapped children.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 1, 350–357.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fooks, G., & Thomas, R. R. (1957). Differential qualitative performance of delinquents on the Porteus Maze.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 21, 351–353.

    Google Scholar 

  • Foulds, G. A. (1951). Temperamental differences in Maze performance.British Journal of Psychology, 42, 209–217.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hollingshead, A. B. (1957).Two factor index of social position. Unpublished manuscript, 1965. Yale Station, New Haven, Connecticut.

  • Iwata, B. A., & Bailey, J. S. (1974). Reward versus cost token systems: An analysis of the effects on students and teacher.Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 7, 567–576.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaufman, K. F., & O'Leary, K. D. (1972). Reward, cost, and self-evaluation procedures for disruptive adolescents in a psychiatric hospital school.Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 5, 293–309.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levine, M., Leitenberg, H., & Richter, M. (1964). The blank trials law: The equivalence of positive reinforcement and nonreinforcement.Psychological Review, 71, 94–103.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matson, J. L., & DiLorenzo, T. M. (1984).Punishment and its alternatives: A new perspective for behavior modification. New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meichenbaum, D. H., & Goodman, J. (1971). Training impulsive children to talk to themselves: A means of developing self-control.Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 77, 115–126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, W. M., III, Finch, A. J., Jr., & Hooke, J. F. (1975). Effects of reinforcement and response-cost on cognitive style in emotionally disturbed boys.Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 84, 426–428.

    Google Scholar 

  • Palkes, H., Stewart, M., & Freedman, J. (1971). Improvement in Porteus Maze performance of hyperactive boys as a function of verbal-training procedures.Journal of Special Education, 5, 337–342.

    Google Scholar 

  • Palkes, H., Stewart, M., & Kahana, B. (1968). Porteus Maze performance of hyperactive boys after training in self-directed verbal commands.Child Development, 39, 817–826.

    Google Scholar 

  • Porteus, S. D. (1942).Qualitative performance in the Maze Test. Vineland, New Jersey: Smith.

    Google Scholar 

  • Porteus, S. D. (1959).The Maze Test and clinical psychology. Palo Alto, California: Pacific Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Porteus, S. D. (1965).Porteus Maze Tests: Fifty years application. Palo Alto, California: Pacific Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Riddle, M., & Roberts, A. H. (1977). Delinquency, delay of gratification, recidivism, and the Porteus Maze Tests.Psychological Bulletin, 84, 417–425.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanderson, M. (1945). Performance of fifth, eighth, and eleventh grade children in the Porteus Maze Qualitative Maze Tests.Journal of Genetic Psychology, 67, 57–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schalling, D., & Rosen, A. S. (1968). Porteus Maze differences between psychopathic and nonpsychopathic criminals.British Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 7, 224–228.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sutker, P. B., Moan, C. E., & Swanson, W. C. (1972). Porteus Maze Test qualitative performance in pure sociopaths, prison normals and antisocial psychotics.Journal of Clinical Psychology, 28, 349–353.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weiner, H. (1962). Some effects of response cost upon human operant behavior.Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 5, 201–208.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weiner, H. (1963). Response cost and the aversive control of human operant behavior.Journal of Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 6, 415–421.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright, C. (1944). The qualitative performance of delinquent boys on the Porteus Maze Test.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 8, 24–26.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Neenan, D.M., Routh, D.K. Response cost, reinforcement, and children's porteus maze qualitative performance. J Abnorm Child Psychol 14, 469–480 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00915439

Download citation

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00915439

Keywords

Navigation