Document Type
Dissertation
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Psychology
Degree
PhD in Behavior Analysis
Dissertation Defense Date
2022
First Committee Member
Bourret, Jason C.
Second Committee Member
N/A
Third Committee Member
N/A
Additional Committee Member(s)
N/A
Abstract
"Delay discounting preparations have been used across species to assess the degree to which delays devalue consequences. Among the studies that have used these preparations with humans, none have assessed indifference points in the absence of contingency descriptions, making the relative role of contingency descriptions and reinforcers in determining responding unclear. In Experiment 1, we examined discounting under circumstances with and without contingency descriptions in a preparation designed to make discrimination of contingencies difficult. Experiment 2 was designed to examine the role of contingency descriptions in a closer approximation to previous discounting preparations. In this experiment, a concurrent schedule with two well-delineated response options were used. Experiment 3 was an extension of Experiment 1 using a remote and more efficient preparation. Experiment 4 extended Experiment 3 by adding a pre-screening to ensure control by reinforcer magnitude. Three conditions were used in each experiment to evaluate the effects of contingency descriptions on delay discounting. During the first condition, consequences were delivered in session contingent upon responding and no contingency descriptions were provided. The second condition included both contingency descriptions and reinforcers. During the final condition, contingency descriptions were given but no consequences were provided. When contingencies were less salient (Experiments 1, 3, and 4), the inclusion of contingency descriptions resulted in less discounting."
Recommended Citation
Upshaw, Stephanie, "An examination of delay discounting with and without contingency descriptions" (2022). Doctoral Dissertations - College of Arts and Sciences. 61.
https://digitalcommons.law.wne.edu/casdissertations/61