Extinction and recovery of the discriminative stimulus effects of nicotine (0.3 mg/kg) was investigated with a devalued food reinforcer (rats sated). Sixteen rats were trained in a counterbalanced one manipulandum (nose-poke) drug discrimination procedure with the roles of nicotine and saline counterbalanced as S[superscript D] and S[superscript…

Eight smokers were randomly assigned to a deposit contract ($50.00) or to a no-deposit group. Using a reversal design, participants could recoup their deposit (deposit group) or earn vouchers (no-deposit group) for smoking reductions and abstinence (breath carbon monoxide [CO] less than or equal to 4 parts per million) during treatment phases.…

This paper aims at exploring how faculty research behaviour changes before, during, and after promotion. Testing research hypotheses generated from behavioral reinforcement theory and an alternative claim on the learning effect of familiarity with publishing norms, the study collects career history data and longitudinal records on faculty research…

This study investigated effects of dissonance and positive reinforcement as feedback mechanisms for altering the humanistic behavior of student teachers. The subjects were undergraduate education majors who were enrolled in a student teaching program. The student teachers were observed twice by their pupils using the Tuckman Teacher Feedback Form.…

Reinforcement hierarchy implies movement along a continuum from top to bottom, from primitive levels of reinforcement to more sophisticated levels. Unless it is immediately obvious that a child cannot function without the use of lower-order reinforcers, we should approach him as though he responds to topmost reinforcers until he demonstrates…

Incentive and behavior were investigated in the study focusing upon a comparison of the effects of response cost (for errors) and response reward (for correct responses) on verbal performance of mentally retarded subjects. (KW)

Objections to the use of tangible reinforcers, such as prizes, candy, cigarettes, and money, are discussed. Treatment programs using tangible reinforcers are recommended as powerful modifers of behavior to be implemented only after less powerful means of modification have been tried. (Author)

Limitations inherent in behavior modification and common misuses of the strategy are discussed. (RJ)

Reports on attempts to apply certain techniques of learning theory, including the use of social and tangible reinforcers, a token economy system, point exchange system, and a chart system. (Author)

After measuring the amount of disruptive behavior exhibited by nine kindergarten children, delayed feedback paired with contingent access to play was found to be most effective in reducing disruptive behavior. (Author)

It is maintained that behavior modification techniques of postitve and intermittent reinforcement specified by B. Skinner to prevent extinction may adversely affect the critical internal motivators of gifted students, who may be bored by constant success. (MC)

Behavior modification, if used properly, is a powerful and useful tool. As with many tools, improper use can cause temporary or permanent damage. The educational program might include behavior modification as one tool in a battery of many tools used to promote healthy change in behavior. (CS)

This research was supported by Research Grant No. 30-200-50, Indiana University Foundation, Indiana University.

Address presented at the National Assoc. for the Education of Young Children (New York, N.Y., November 6, 1968)

Reward contingencies and other extrinsic constraints on behavior can lead to reduced levels of interest in and/or decreased engagement in a target activity in a subsequent noncontingent situation. It has been hypothesized that this effect is caused by a change in the self-perceived locus of motivation from intrinsic to extrinsic. It follows from…