Resistance to extinction as a function of self- or externally determined schedules of reinforcement

Investigated a component of the self-reinforcement process-that of standard setting. Specifically, this experiment assessed the effect of self-selected vs other-determined schedules of reinforcement on resistance to extinction. 172 2nd-4th graders were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 conditions. One group (self) was permitted to select 1 of 3 schedules of reinforcement before making responses at a game-like apparatus. For the 2nd group (external), the schedules were determined by a yoking procedure. Extinction procedures were instituted for all Ss after 20 contingently reinforced responses were made. Results show that the self group persisted significantly longer and emitted more responses in extinction than did the external group. A strong partial reinforcement effect was also found. (33 ref)