Study

In ABA 101, we learn about the power of reinforcement and how it can be used to shape desired behavior through the principles of ABA. Through this study, I aim to demonstrate the effectiveness of ABA principles by examining participant satiation in relation to the acquisition of contingent reinforcement. I will also transparently share outcome data in real-time and hope to implement these methods beyond this study.

The study will involve participants completing a series of simple tasks, receiving immediate compensation, and then being given the option to continue or return to the portal. The main objective is to determine the average level of satiation for contingent reinforcement acquisition among participants and identify emerging patterns in environmental variables through a continuous baseline condition.

Additionally, the study aims to promote the concept of "Reactivity" by fostering participants' awareness of their behavior and performance. It is hoped that this awareness will carry over into their daily lives outside of the controlled study environment.

It is crucial for individuals to understand their personal limits and how much they are willing to push themselves towards satiation. If environmental variables such as location and schedule were not a factor, and if direct instruction was available throughout the task, and appropriately sized reinforcement was readily available for immediate earning, the expected duration of the average person and the frequency of completed responses or acquiesced for reinforcement could be determined.

OperantChamber is interested in this research to gain insight into the expected duration and response frequency of individuals, and participant prize compensation may vary across the entire site or research platform. By understanding these factors, we can better design and implement effective behavior modification programs that utilize reinforcement techniques to promote desired behavior.

The focus of this study is to address the lack of research available on the effectiveness of performance management and reinforcement techniques in non-clinical environments for typically functioning individuals under similar contingent circumstances, both at an individual and group level. This research aims to bridge the gap in understanding and provide valuable insights into how reinforcement strategies can be implemented in real-world situations to achieve optimal behavior outcomes. By studying these aspects, we can develop more effective behavior management strategies for non-clinical settings.

The primary goal of this study is to educate participants on the motivating principles of ABA through the demonstration of the "D.I.S.C" shaping techniques during their trial responses. Additionally, we aim to track points of satiation across all participants on the platform, providing valuable insights into how individuals respond to contingent reinforcement in real-world situations. By educating participants on these principles and tracking their responses, we hope to contribute to the knowledge base on effective behavior modification techniques and further promote the principles of ABA in non-clinical settings.

The participants of this study are open to anyone with a reliable internet connection who registers for participation and is of legal working age. Individuals who are currently employed or have experience in entry-level employment roles are particularly encouraged to participate. However, it is important to note that participants must have personal financial resources available and be willing to utilize them to complete and verify their responses, as we want to ensure that responses are provided by real individuals rather than bots.

Specifically, participants will be required to provide $3 of their own resources at the end of a trial to verify their status as human subjects. In return, participants will be rebated their initial $3 and compensated with an additional $2 for their trial participation. This compensation approach is necessary to ensure the validity and reliability of the study results while maintaining ethical standards.

The primary dependent variable of focus in this study is the number of "continuous" successfully completed behavioral responses before satiation occurs. This variable will be measured by tallying every instance of a successful task trial for all participants and on an individual basis. By tracking this variable, we hope to gain insights into how long individuals can engage in a particular behavior before becoming satiated, providing valuable data for behavior management strategies.

The secondary dependent variables of interest in this study are the duration and frequency of participants' time on the research platform. These variables will be measured by calculating the time between participants' logins and logouts (or inactivity for 5 minutes) and then determining the frequency of participants' logins and engagement in trials within a span of 7 days. By tracking these variables, we can understand how long and how frequently individuals engage in the behavior of interest, providing insights into how to optimize reinforcement strategies for behavior management in non-clinical environments.

The experimental design utilized in this study is a continuous baseline model, which is the most appropriate design for mimicking the contingency flow of gig work. This design aligns with the motivation approach of "work when you want, get paid when it's finished," which is common in non-traditional work environments. By utilizing this experimental design, we hope to gain insights into the effectiveness of reinforcement strategies in non-clinical environments, specifically in gig work scenarios.