Effectiveness of Various Omission Training Procedures as a Function of Reinforcement History

This experiment analyzed the relative effectiveness of three different omission-training conditions (OT 5 sec., OT 20 sec., and gradual OT with a time-dependent criterion) in reducing a lever-press response following three different histories of reinforcement. 36 children between the ages of 4½ and 11 yr. were initially trained to press a lever according to a VR 35 schedule of reinforcement for 10 min. (Period I). Following acquisition, subjects were exposed to one of three conditions: DRL 10 sec. followed by OT, maintenance of VR followed by OT, or OT alone (Periods II and III). Over-all results indicated a significant reduction in response rate with the introduction or continuation of the various OT schedules. The DRL-OT treatment combination was significantly more effective in reducing response rate than the introduction of the same OT schedules following the lengthened VR history, but the use of the DRL-OT treatment combination was not significantly better than the OT condition of the same duration. O...