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A comparative analysis of experimental designs for procedural fidelity investigations

Año: 2026

Abstract Differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA) reduces challenging behavior and increases alternative responding when implemented as designed. Deviations from treatment protocols (i.e., fidelity errors) reduce the efficacy of DRA. To understand the effects of fidelity errors during DRA, researchers have used multielement and reversal designs but have not directly compared effects of fidelity errors across designs. The present experiments compared effects of fidelity errors on DRA using reversal and multielement designs in a translational arrangement. Twelve undergraduates experienced a computer program in which alternations between DRA with 100% fidelity (DRA 100%) and DRA with 50% fidelity (DRA 50%) occurred according to both multielement and reversal designs. Six participants experienced signaled conditions (Experiment 1), and six participants experienced unsignaled conditions (Experiment 2). Results replicated previous reduced‐fidelity research in that more target responding occurred during DRA 50% relative to DRA 100%. This was true regardless of design type and presence of signals. However, when DRA 50% and DRA 100% were rapidly alternated without signals, participants engaged in less target responding during DRA 50% and more target responding during DRA 100%. Implications of the present experiments include considerations related to design selection and presence of signals within multielement designs during evaluations with procedural fidelity manipulations.

A comparison of the Don't Stop! Game and the Step it UP ! Game to increase step counts of adults with disabilities

Año: 2026

Abstract The Step it UP! Game, a modified version of the Good Behavior Game (GBG), has previously been shown to increase physical activity levels among elementary school children and adults with disabilities. The purpose of this study was to compare a novel modification of the GBG targeting physical activity, the Don't Stop! Game, with the Step it UP! Game. Participants included 14 young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Three conditions were alternated randomly within a multielement design: baseline, Step it UP! Game (in which the team with the most steps wins a prize), and Don't Stop! Game (in which the team with the fewest demerits for standing still wins a prize). All 14 participants had higher steps per minute during intervention conditions relative to baseline, but the degree of difference between intervention conditions differed across participants. The Don't Stop! Game was preferred by more participants.

A review of the neuropharmacological profile of schedule‐induced polydipsia

Año: 2026

Abstract Schedule‐induced polydipsia (SIP) arises when subjects consume excessive amounts of water during interval responding on operant tasks, a paradigm introduced and mostly developed in rats. Neuropharmacological studies conducted on SIP have mainly shown a prominent role of dopamine and 5HT in this adjunctive behavior. In particular, D 1 /D 2 receptor antagonists decrease SIP, whereas low doses of dopamine reuptake blockers increase SIP. There is more specific evidence of a decline in SIP after lesions of the mesolimbic dopamine pathway. A decline in SIP is likewise observed after the injection of 5HT reuptake blockers and modulated by 5HT 2A /5HT 2C receptor agonists and antagonists. Despite more limited studies with other neurotransmitter systems, SIP has so far been shown to decline after the injection of muscarinic or NMDA receptor antagonists as well as benzodiazepine receptor agonists. Under some conditions, the role of neuroendocrine factors is shown by alterations in blood corticosterone levels during the course of SIP, indicative of its stress‐reducing properties.

A systematic replication investigating the efficiency and effectiveness of restricted‐ and free‐operant programming

Año: 2026

Abstract Researchers have examined differences between free‐ and restricted‐operant teaching arrangements while equating response and reinforcement rates. Preliminary data suggest that nonhuman organisms acquire novel discriminations more quickly under free‐operant arrangements (Hachiya & Ito, 1991). In contrast, Bulla et al. (2024) found that humans learned novel discriminations more efficiently under restricted‐operant arrangements. This study systematically replicates Bulla et al. (2024). We taught participants to say the corresponding numeral 0–10 for Hindi, Eastern Arabic, and Mandarin numbers. We assigned each number set to a free‐operant, restricted‐operant, or control teaching arrangement. The study assessed the effects of each arrangement across two phases: (1) acquisition and (2) frequency building. Additionally, data were collected on measures of fluency outcomes. Results suggest that participants acquired novel discriminations more quickly under restricted‐operant arrangements. No major differences emerged in fluency outcomes when response–reinforcer relations remained equal. Procedural modifications are discussed to clarify distinctions between basic and translational findings.

A translational approach to investigating the effects of consequence‐based procedural fidelity errors postmastery

Año: 2026

Abstract Procedural fidelity is the extent to which prescribed protocols are accurately and correctly implemented. Prior researchers found that consequence‐based procedural fidelity errors can delay or impede learning, but not much is known about how they influence performance for tasks that have previously been mastered. The purpose of this study was to systematically replicate Falakfarsa et al. (2023) to further investigate how consequence‐based errors affect performance postmastery. Twenty‐four undergraduates mastered a computerized match‐to‐sample task under conditions of perfect fidelity (100%). Following mastery, consequence‐based errors were introduced across varying levels of fidelity. For 13 participants, we observed decreased percentage of correct responses on the task in the presence of errors, with considerable intersubject variability. No effect of the independent variable was observed for 11 participants. The results suggest that error reinforcement was the more detrimental error type. We discuss the implications of the results and make several suggestions for future research.

Alternative‐reinforcer magnitude effects on resurgence across successive relapse tests in mice

Año: 2026

Abstract Alternative‐reinforcement‐based treatments are common strategies for reducing maladaptive behavior in humans. When conditions of alternative reinforcement are made worse in some way, however, behavior that was targeted for elimination may resurge. Previous research using rat subjects has demonstrated that high‐magnitude (relative to low‐magnitude) alternative reinforcement produces faster elimination of target behavior but more resurgence once removed. The purpose of the present experiment was to assess cross‐species generality of these effects to mice. During Phase 1, lever pressing produced single food pellet reinforcers. Next, during Phase 2, lever pressing was extinguished and groups of mice experienced either small‐magnitude (one pellet), large‐magnitude (three pellet), or no alternative reinforcement for nose poking. All food was suspended in Phase 3 to assess resurgence. As an additional goal of this study, changes in resurgence across successive determinations were assessed by cycling between periods during which alternative reinforcement was present or absent. Large‐magnitude alternative reinforcers produced faster suppression of target behavior but more resurgence when removed than did small‐magnitude alternative reinforcers. Moreover, this effect endured across repeated resurgence tests.

Application of the augmented competing stimulus assessment to identify and establish competing self‐restraint items

Año: 2026

Abstract Automatically maintained self‐injurious behavior (SIB) sometimes co‐occurs with self‐restraint, a self‐limiting behavior that impedes SIB and can be maladaptive (e.g., hinders functional skills and movement). The presence of self‐restraint suggests SIB produces aversive consequences, which self‐restraint limits. We conducted a prospective consecutive controlled case series study of five individuals with Subtype 3 automatically maintained SIB where we applied the augmented competing stimulus assessment to identify and establish alternative self‐restraint items to compete with existing forms of self‐restraint. At least one high‐competition item that produced an 80% or greater reduction in self‐restraint and SIB without disrupting toy engagement was identified for the four participants who completed assessment. We discuss the need for additional research on this procedure and how competing self‐restraint items can be used in combination with competing stimuli and tasks to address SIB and self‐restraint. We also discuss some avenues for research that is directed at understanding the mechanisms of self‐restraint.

Behavioral economic analysis of pigeons' token accumulation and reinforcer demand in a laboratory‐based token economy

Año: 2026

Abstract The present study examined pigeons' token accumulation and food reinforcer demand within a token economy using a behavioral economic approach. Six pigeons were exposed to a token reinforcement procedure, in which responses on a token‐production key produced tokens. When at least one token was earned, an exchange‐production key became simultaneously available, and at this juncture, pigeons chose between earning tokens or producing the exchange period during which accumulated tokens could be exchanged for food reinforcers. Token accumulation was examined as a function of five economically relevant experimental variables: the token‐production ratio (labor productivity), exchange‐production ratio (transaction costs), token‐exchange price, the number of free tokens (nonlabor income), and token‐reinforcement magnitude (wage). Results revealed that token accumulation varied systematically with the token‐production ratio, the exchange‐production ratio, and token‐reinforcement magnitude but was less affected by the token‐exchange price and the number of free tokens. In addition, consistent with behavioral economic models of demand, overall food consumption decreased consistently under higher response costs regardless of whether the costs were defined in terms of tokens, exchange periods, or food. Collectively, these findings show how token reinforcement systems apply to everyday economic behaviors such as saving, spending, and demand, providing a bridge between reinforcement theory and behavioral economics.

Behavioral history effects on the maintenance of schedule‐induced drinking in rats

Año: 2026

Abstract Variables affecting scheduled‐induced drinking (SID) have been widely studied. Previous experience with other food schedules can slow or prevent acquisition of SID, and its rate can decrease once it has developed if the conditions of the experimental sessions change. These findings conform to the idea that the distribution of behaviors during interreinforcement intervals depends on the occurrence of other behaviors. The goal here was to investigate the effect of interrupting access to water on the subsequent maintenance of SID when access to water was restored. First, in Phase A, rats developed SID under three different fixed‐interval (FI) schedules. Then, in Phase B, access to water was removed in the conditioning chambers while food continued to be delivered under the same schedules. Last, when access to water was restored, rats that continued under the food‐reinforcement schedule showed lower levels of SID than subjects that remained in their home cages throughout Phase B. Competition between licking and lever pressing was observed, particularly during short FI schedules. These data expand previous findings on behavioral history effects on SID and suggest that SID is part of behavioral patterns developed during interreinforcement intervals in which distribution of behaviors depends on occurrence of all other behaviors.

Comparing delayed matching to sample with three variations of the training‐ IRAP for establishing derived relations

Año: 2026

Abstract A common method for studying derived relations is the matching‐to‐sample (MTS) preparation. However, certain aspects of its training format potentially hinder the emergence of new relations. The training version of the implicit relational assessment procedure (training‐IRAP) may present an alternative. Our primary objective involved comparing the effectiveness of delayed MTS(2s) and training‐IRAP procedures on participant yield. The secondary objective involved comparing mean number of training blocks per procedure. Given additional components in the standard training‐IRAP not found in MTS, changes were made to the former, producing the modified training‐IRAP and delayed modified training‐IRAP(2s). Sixty‐eight typically developing students participated in a between‐subjects design. Two classes comprising five abstract stimuli were employed. Yield was analyzed at three levels, 91.67, 83.33, and 79% correct responses, with at least 87.5% correct responses at baseline mixed‐block maintenance. All participants maintained baseline criterion during tests. At the three levels of analyses, the modified versions of training‐IRAP produced higher yield, followed by DMTS(2s) and then the standard training‐IRAP. Mean number of blocks to complete training phases was lowest for the delayed MTS(2s) and delayed modified training‐IRAP(2s) groups. Limitations and implications of the findings toward greater precision, scope, and depth in conceptual, experimental, and applied settings are discussed.