 |
|||
|
Dissertation Defense |
 |
|
|
Candidate: Daniel Shabani Degree of: Doctor of Philosophy Committee: Dr. James E. Carr, Chair Date: Thursday, May 19, 2005 2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Abstract: Within the operant conditioning literature, there exists the concept of the functional response class. A functional response class is defined as a collection of responses, all of which produce the same outcome. If the members of a response class occur in a predictable order, a response-class hierarchy is said to exist. A hierarchy refers to a specific type of response class in which each member of the response class may be hierarchically related and ordered along various dimensions (e.g., response effort, immediacy of reinforcement, magnitude of reinforcer). Although the response-class hierarchy has received moderate conceptual attention over the years, there has been very little use of the concept in the applied literature. The goal of the current investigation was to develop a model of a response-class hierarchy. First, participants were taught three behaviors in an attempt to develop a response class (Study 1). Following the response class development, response effort and extinction were evaluated in an attempt to establish a response-class hierarchy (Study 2). Results of Study 1 indicated that a functional response class was developed and that there was a relation between response rate and effort for the established response class. Results of Study 2 indicated that a response-class hierarchy existed within the previously developed response classes for two out of five participants. These results suggested that although a functional response class of button pressing had been established, there was not a clear relation between response rate and effort for all participants. Implications of these results as well as suggestions for future research are discussed. |
|
||
 For Future Students | For Current Students | For Faculty and Staff | About The Graduate College Events | Policies/Guidelines | Dissertation Defenses | ETD | Forms Updated May 11, 2005
Copyright © 2002-2004, Western Michigan University
Contact The Graduate College, 260 W. Walwood Hall, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5456 Phone: 269 387-8212 |