Acquisition of Secondary Reinforcers by Children

Abstract

In one partially reinforced and one continuously reinforced group, children made no response during training. One partially reinforced group picked up and ate candy which was presented contiguously with a light. One partially and one continuously reinforced group picked up the candy but did not eat it. One control group received no candy during training trials, and a second control group received no training. Extinction tests with the light contingent upon lever excursion indicated that a response during acquisition was not necessary to condition a secondary reinforcer, but strong effects were obtained by including a consummatory response. Stronger effects were obtained with a partial schedule and either no response or a consummatory response during acquisition trials.