An Evaluation of the Reinforcing Effectiveness of Attention Topographies on Skill Acquisition

Attention is often used as a reinforcer to increase behavior. Previous researchers have evaluated the preference and reinforcing efficacy of attention, often focusing on different types of attention such as physical attention or praise. The current study replicated and extended previous research by evaluating the reinforcing efficacy of three topographies (praise, physical attention, and conversation) of attention on skill acquisition for typically developing preschool children. The results demonstrated that all participants engaged in differential rates of mastery across conditions, with physical attention and praise associated with higher rates of mastery than conversation. The findings are discussed relative to previous research and implications for practice.