Premackian Reinforcement of Classroom Behavior Through Topic Sequencing

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Abstract
In a test of Premack's model of reinforcement, 108 fifth-grade students at Cactus Wren Elementary School were randomly assigned to three groups. All subjects participated in 15 daily 90-minute experimental sessions. Prior to initiating the treatment, all of the subject's preferences for reading, social studies, and science were measured by means of a 10-point rating scale. Ratings for each of the three topics ranged from zero (“I don't like it”) to 10 (“I like it very much”). On the basis of the pretest ratings, it was possible to determine for each subject his least preferred (L), intermediate or middle (M), and highest rated (H) topic. One of the treatment groups, designated Reward, studied the three topics in a sequence that conformed to Premack's prescription for reinforcement. These subjects were required to achieve some criterion level of performance in L in order to gain access to M. Criterion achievement in topic M earned the right to initiate activities related to the most preferred topic, H. Posttest preference measures indicated that Reward preference ratings for L were significantly higher than pretest ratings (p < .01). Premack also proposed that punishment is essentially the reverse of reinforcement. The individual is forced to terminate a relatively high strength activity in order to initiate a relatively low strength behavior. In the present study, this notion was tested by requiring Punishment subjects to begin each day's session studying H. After 30 minutes, these subjects were required to move on to their intermediate topic, M. After another 30 minutes, they were required to study their least preferred topic, L. It was predicted and confirmed (p < .01) that Punishment posttest preference measures of H would show a significant decrement. Control group subjects were allowed to choose freely which of the three topics they would study. This constituted the only distinction between the two treatment groups and the Control group. It was predicted that since Control subjects did not undergo either a reinforcing or a punishing Premackian contingency, posttest preference measures would not differ from pretest values. Unfortunately, Control scores changed in the same manner as the two treatment groups. Several reasons why the treatment effect occurred for Control subjects were discussed.