Dr. Skinner wants a pigeon to learn to peck a button in its cage. He first records how often the pigeon pecks the button. Then, after 3 days, he begins to give food to the pigeon every time it pecks the button. The pigeon's rate of pecking the button increases. After 3 days, he quits giving the pigeon food contingent on its pecking the button. The pigeon's rate of pecking the button decreases. After 3 more days, Dr. Skinner begins giving the pigeon food for pecking the button again, and its rate of pecking increases again. What kind of experimental design has Dr. Skinner used?
A) Teaching Design
B) Changing Conditions Design
C) AB
D) ABAB

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Dr. Skinner has used an ABAB experimental design, which involves alternating between a baseline phase (A) and an intervention phase (B). In this case, the baseline phase was when the pigeon was not receiving food for pecking the button, and the intervention phase was when the pigeon was receiving food for pecking the button. The first "A" phase establishes a baseline level of behavior, the first "B" phase tests the intervention, the second "A" phase confirms that the intervention caused the behavior change, and the second "B" phase confirms that the intervention can be repeated to cause the same behavior change. This design allows for a strong demonstration of cause-and-effect relationships between the intervention and the behavior change.

Dr Skinner Wants a Pigeon to Learn to Peck a Button