Jeff S. Topping

Development of Control-of-Outcome Scales and Self-Efficacy Scales for Women in Four Life Roles

Scales to measure control-of-outcome expectancies and self-efficacy expectancies based on social comparisons were developed for adult females in the four life roles of occupation, parenting, marriage, and economic management. Internal consistency and construct validity of the scales were examined in two studies. Internal consistency estimates of six of the eight scales exceeded .70. A factor analysis within each role supported the distinction between control-of-outcome expectancies and self-efficacy expectancies. Construct validity was supported by finding the hypothesized relations between the developed scales and standard measures of self-esteem, depression,and locus of control. As hypothesized, the developed scales accounted for unique portions of the variance in role-specific coping orientation and role stress. Specifically, control-of-outcome expectancies predicted active or passive coping orientation in the personal roles of parenting and marriage. It was concluded that the developed scales might have utility for understanding coping and experienced stress in various life roles.

The Relative Efficiency of Four Response-Elimination Techniques Following Variable-Ratio Reinforcement Training

In the present experiment humans received training on a variable-ratio reinforcement schedule and were then shifted to one of 4 response-elimination procedures: extinction training, omission training, response cost, or omission training plus response cost. Results indicated that response cost, omission training plus response cost, and omission training eliminated responding significantly faster than did extinction training. In addition, response cost and omission training plus response cost reduced responding signi-ficandy more rapidly than did omission training, although the effects of the former 2 procedures were not significantly different.

Response Elimination Effectiveness of Omission and Two Extinction Training Procedures

The present study attempted to compare the response-elimination properties of omission training with 2 types of extinction training following VI 20-sec. reinforcement training. One group received conditioned reinforcers during response-elimination sessions, while the other was treated in the traditional manner. Omission training produced relatively more rapid and more complete response elimination than both extinction training techniques. Also, the extinction training procedure employing conditioned reinforcers resulted in faster but less durable response elimination than the traditional extinction training procedure.

The differential effects of omission and extinction following DRL pretraining

The present study attempted to compare the response-elimination efficiencies of omission and extinction training following DRL 20-sec pretraining. Results indicated that omission training produced relatively more rapid and more complete response elimination than extinction training.

Ecological Dissonance and Organizational Climate

Using some of the principles of cognitive dissonance theory, a theoretical corollary to Barkers 1968 ecological theory was developed. The result, referred to as ecological dissonance, was proposed as a theoretical explanation for several of the phenomena associated with the concept of organizational climate. The theory was also offered as an explanation of behaviors that can result from the introduction of stringent penalties for such offenses as driving-under-the-influence.

Effect of A Social Stigma on Interpersonal Distance

The present experiment examined the effect of a social stigma (bisexuality) on interpersonal distance via a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial design. The independent variables were the sex of the subject, sex of the confederate, and experimental condition (stigmatized vs. nonstigmatized). The dependent variable was the subject’s seating distance from the confederate during an interview situation. Results indicated that subjects sat closer to a non-stigmatized than a stigmatized confederate and that subjects positioned themselves closer to a female confederate than to a male confederate.

Comparison of Omission and Extinction Following Fr Reinforcement Training

The present experiment compared the response-elimination capabilities of omission training, in which reinforcement is contingent on the nonoccurrence of a previously reinforced response and extinction training following 2 different FR reinforcement training schedules. Treatment of the extinction Ss was different from usual in that an empty food hopper was presented during extinction according to the respective FR reinforcement schedule. Results indicated that the omission training groups eliminated responding at a significantly faster rate than the extinction training groups. Implications for future research in this area were discussed.

Omission training: Effects of gradual introduction

Pigeons were initially trained on a VI 30-sec reinforcement schedule and then either gradually or immediately switched to the final and maximum parameter values of an omission training schedule. Results indicated that the gradual introduction procedure was more efficient since it produced significantly faster elimination of the pecking response.

Response Elimination with DRO and Extinction: A Within-Subject Comparison

Abstract3 pigeons initially received nondifferential reinforcement training for keypecking on a 3-component multiple schedule, with identical variable-interval 30-sec. schedules in effect in each component. Following response rate stabilization in each component, the reinforcement contingencies were changed in 2 components. In one, reinforcement occurred whenever a response was not emitted for a designated time interval; in the other, reinforcement was no longer available. Responding was eliminated faster with DRO than with extinction in all Ss, and response rates above base-line consistently developed in the unaltered component. Findings from a retention test indicated that response elimination was very durable with DRO, whereas spontaneous recovery occurred with the extinction schedule.

Comparison of six response-elimination techniques following VR reinforcement training in humans

The present study employed humans in an examination of the relative response-eliminating effects of the following six procedures: Extinction training, omission training, response cost, omission training plus response cost, extinction training plus response cost, and omission training with a gradual introduction. Results indicated that all procedures eliminated responding significantly more effectively than did extinction training. In addition, omission training plus response cost, extinction training plus response cost, and omission training with a gradual introduction reduced responding significantly more effectively than did either omission training or response cost, which did not differ significantly from each other. Finally, omission training plus response cost and extinction training plus response cost decreased responding significantly more efficiently than did omission training with a gradual introduction, although they were not significantly different from each other.