EFFECTS OF REINFORCER CHOICE MEASURED IN SINGLE‐OPERANT AND CONCURRENT‐SCHEDULE PROCEDURES

Abstract

The effects of choice and no choice of reinforcer on the response rates of 3 children with autism were compared across single‐operant and concurrent‐schedule procedures. No consistent differences in responding between choice and no‐choice components emerged during single‐operant phases. During the concurrent‐schedule phases, however, all participants had substantially higher rates of responding to the button that led to a choice among reinforcers than to the button that did not lead to choice.