Using Pre and Post Low-p Latency to Assess Behavioral Momentum: A Preliminary Investigation

Abstract

Delivering high-probability (high-p) request sequences is an effective method to increase compliance across settings. To date, researchers have used frequency of compliance and latency to initiate low-probability (low-p) requests to document these effects. Both measures focus on events just prior to and during the low-p task. In these two studies we examined a third possible example of high-p effects, time from the end of a low-p task to the initiation of subsequent high-p tasks, across both traditional high-p and high-p with added incentives conditions. Overall, we found that the latency from high-p to low-p tasks was shorter than the latency from low-p to subsequent high-p tasks, indicating a momentum effect across four children (two with academic difficulties and two without). The results are explained in terms of behavioral momentum and local reinforcement rates.