Sensibilidade de crianças à variações na magnitude e atraso do reforçamento, usando brinquedo como reforço

Abstract

The present study investigated if children's choice in a concurrent chained schedule could be controlled by variations on reinforcement delay or magnitude. Six children, ages between 5 and 6 years old, were submitted to a chained VI-VI 15s schedule on the initial ink of the chain. Children responded on a computer screen using a mouse. On the terminal link, responses with a mouse on a given area of the computer screen were reinforced l\on a FR5 schedule with tokens. Either submitting subjects to distinct Fixed Time periods, or varying reinforcement magnitude by varying token colors reinforcement delay and magnitude was manipulated. Tokens could be of three different colors, each one corresponding to a different ratio of exchange at the end of the sessions, when they were exchanged for toys. Two pairs of reinforcement magnitude and delay were manipulated on Experiment one, for all subjects. The number of choice responses, at the end of the VI period, measured control by these variables. Results showed variability among subjects, although 5 of the six subjects seemed indifferent to magnitude variations. Some subjects seemed to be controlled by a smaller delay. The same six subjects participated on a second experiment, when reinforcer delay and reinforcer magnitude were varied at the same time. Control by reinforcer magnitude was found with some subjects Nevertheless; other subjects were more strongly controlled by remforcer delay, including subjects with no preferences during Experiment 1