LIMITED MATCHING ON CONCURRENT-SCHEDULE REINFORCEMENT OF ACADEMIC BEHAVIOR

Three adolescent students with special educational needs were given a choice between completing one of two available sets of math problems. Reinforcers (nickles) across these alternatives were arranged systemat ically in separate experimental phases according to three different co ncurrent variable-interval schedules (reinforcement ratios of 2:1, 6:1 , and 12:1). Time allocated to the two stacks of math problems stood i n linear relationship to the reinforcement rate obtained from each sta ck, although substantial undermatching and bias were observed for all subjects. However, changes in the schedules were not followed by chang es in allocation patterns until adjunct procedures (e.g., changeover d elays, limited holds, timers, and demonstrations) were introduced. The necessity of adjunct procedures in establishing matching in applied s ituation is discussed as a limitation to quantitative applications of the matching law in applied behavior analysis.