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Experimental analysis of childhood psychopathology: A laboratory matching analysis of the behavior of children diagnosed with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

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Abstract

The behavior of children diagnosed with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has been hypothesized to involve differential sensitivity to parameters of reward and punishment. However, support for these theories has been limited because, in part, of the methods used to investigate them. The current study examined the behavior of six ADHD children and six comparison children on a computer task designed to present different parameters of reinforcement by using concurrent reinforcement schedules. A quantitative analysis of the sensitivity to changing contingencies of reinforcement was conducted by examining the performance of the children across five experimental conditions. Results suggest that although there may have been several mediating variables, children diagnosed with ADHD may show less sensitivity to changing parameters of reinforcement rate as measured by response ratios and time allocation to two concurrently available alternatives. Implications of these results are discussed in terms of the utility of such experimental methods in the study of childhood behavior disorders.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Auburn University, 226 Thach Hall, AL, 36849, USA

    Scott H. Kollins, Scott D. Lane & Steven K. Shapiro

Authors
  1. Scott H. Kollins
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  2. Scott D. Lane
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  3. Steven K. Shapiro
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Additional information

This study was submitted by the first author to the Graduate Faculty of Auburn University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. This study was supported in part by a grant from the Auburn University Department of Psychology for Graduate Research and portions of the study were presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Association for Behavior Analysis October, 1994, Savannah, GA. The authors wish to thank T. S. Critchfield; J. F. McCoy; and M. C. Newland for their helpful comments on earlier versions of this manuscript.

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Kollins, S.H., Lane, S.D. & Shapiro, S.K. Experimental analysis of childhood psychopathology: A laboratory matching analysis of the behavior of children diagnosed with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Psychol Rec 47, 25–44 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03395211

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