Reinforcement Schedule and Children's Preference for Working versus Freeloading

Abstract

Second and sixth graders were allowed to work for tokens by throwing a switch on either a CRF or FR10 schedule and freely to obtain tokens without switch throwing. The tokens were exchangeable for a toy or candy. Sixth graders (N = 29) had a significantly greater number of switch throws, and obtained significantly more tokens than second graders (N = 35). Significantly more switch throws occurred under the FR10 schedule, while significantly more tokens were obtained under the CRF schedule. Significantly more switch throws occurred at the box where tokens were dispensed contingent upon switch throwing; second graders had significantly fewer switch throws at that box and significantly more switch throws occurred at that box under the FR10 schedule. There was no significant difference in the number of tokens obtained by working versus the number obtained by freeloading. No significant sex difference was found for either dependent variable. It was concluded that children will work for reinforcers in a setting where reinforcers are freely available but that they will cease to work when reinforcers are no longer forthcoming and when the ratio of required responses per reinforcer is too large.