EFFECTS OF A VARIABLE-RATIO REINFORCEMENT SCHEDULE WITH CHANGING CRITERIA ON EXERCISE IN OBESE AND NONOBESE BOYS

The effects of a variable‐ratio schedule of reinforcement on pedaling a stationary exercise bicycle were examined. Three obese and three nonobese 11‐year‐old boys were individually tested five times weekly for approximately 12 weeks. A changing‐criterion design was used in which each successive crit...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of applied behavior analysis 1992, Vol.25 (3), p.671-679
Main Authors: De Luca, Rayleen V., Holborn, Stephen W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Behavior Modification
Behavioral Science Research
Bicycling
changing criterion design
Child
children
Exercise
Humans
Male
Males
Obesity
Obesity - psychology
Obesity - therapy
Personal Satisfaction
Preadolescents
Reinforcement
Reinforcement Schedule
Research Design
Special Health Problems
Time Factors
Time Factors (Learning)
Token Economy
variable-ratio schedule
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Summary:The effects of a variable‐ratio schedule of reinforcement on pedaling a stationary exercise bicycle were examined. Three obese and three nonobese 11‐year‐old boys were individually tested five times weekly for approximately 12 weeks. A changing‐criterion design was used in which each successive criterion was increased over mean performance rate in the previous phase by approximately 15%. The contingencies of the successive criteria resulted in systematic increases in rate of exercise for all children. Final variable‐ratio rates were higher than those under fixed ratios found in previous research, with rates for 2 of the 3 obese boys approximating those of the nonobese.
ISSN:0021-8855
1938-3703
DOI:10.1901/jaba.1992.25-671