Two studies are reported: the first extends the generality of covert reinforcement; the second poses a question about the processes that underlie behavior change with this procedure. Exp. 1, conducted with 50 male hospitalized psychiatric patients, indicated that covert reinforcement produced a significant change in plural-noun responding on a word naming task. Exp. 2, using the same experimental design, with 25 male and 25 female college students, showed significant change only for male subjects. While some support has been produced for the efficacy of covert reinforcement, a question is raised concerning the value of an operant model for explaining behavioral change via covert reinforcement.
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