R. Stromer et al., Designing interventions that include delayed reinforcement: Implications of recent laboratory research, J APPL BE A, 33(3), 2000, pp. 359-371
The search for robust and durable interventions in everyday situations typi
cally involves the use of delayed reinforcers, sometimes delivered well aft
er a target behavior occurs. Integrating the findings from laboratory resea
rch on delayed reinforcement can contribute to the design and analysis of t
hose applied interventions. As illustrations, we examine articles from the
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior that analyzed delayed rein
forcement with respect to response allocation (A. M. Williams & Lattal, 199
9), stimulus chaining (B. A. Williams, 1999), and self-control (Jackson & H
ackenberg, 1996). These studies help to clarify the conditions under which
delayed reinforcement (a) exercises control of behavior, (b) entails condit
ioned reinforcement, and (c) displaces the effects of immediate reinforceme
nt. The research has applied implications, including the development of pos
itive social behavior and teaching people to make adaptive choices.