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| #406 Poster Session – CSE |
| Monday, May 31, 2004 |
| 5:30 PM–7:00 PM |
| Exhibit Hall D (Hynes) |
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| 51. You Can Teach an Old Dog New Tricks: Illustrating Clicker Training with a Mixed-breed Dog |
| Area: CSE; Domain: Applied Research |
| JONATHAN A. WORCESTER (University of South Florida), Michelle A. Duda (University of South Florida) |
| Abstract: Clicker training (Pryor, 1984) is a form of non-coercive, behaviorally-oriented training that has been used with a wide variety of animals, including domestic, farm, and wild animals. The procedure entails the use of a clicker, a simple mechanical device used to mark a behavior simultaneously paired with the presentation of a reinforcing stimulus. Clicker training has been an effective means of shaping, extinquishing, and/or reinforcing new behaviors. |
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| 52. The Last Chance Project: Measuring the Impact of an Animal-based Intervention on Client Behavior |
| Area: CSE; Domain: Applied Research |
| RACHAEL E. BUDOWLE (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University), Angela K. Fournier (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University) |
| Abstract: This study evaluated the behavioral effects of an intervention on the clients and staff of a residential adolescent substance-abuse treatment facility. The intervention was a pet-facilitated therapy program in which clients and staff of the facility cared for and trained a shelter dog. Measures were compared in a pre-test/post-test design. It was hypothesized that clients would experience an increase in positive behaviors, a decrease in negative behaviors, and more participation, staying on task, and positive attitude during the intervention condition. These variables were measured with behavioral checklists completed by the staff. Staff were hypothesized to experience an increase in happiness and excitement, as well as a decrease in anxiety, anger, impatience, and frustration. These variables were measured by a self-report scale. One way analyses of variance resulted in significant changes in positive client behavior F (1, 98) = 7.03, p < .01. Specifically, clients were significantly more on task (p < .05), and participated significantly more in treatment activities during intervention than baseline (p < .05). In addition clients exhibited more positive attitudes during the intervention (p < .05). Staff reported significant differences in levels of excitement, anxiety, and frustration during intervention as well (p’s < .01). |
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| 53. Communicating Risk: The Effects of Method of Presentation on Understanding and Memory for Risk Information |
| Area: CSE; Domain: Applied Research |
| FRANK HAMMONDS (Troy University), Wendy Donlin Washington (Auburn University) |
| Abstract: It is important to provide the public with clear, accurate information regarding the risks associated with various behaviors and environmental conditions. Some individuals may not fully appreciate the difference between a .000001 risk and a .0000001 risk. In this study, participants read short descriptions of the risks associated with pollution, smoking, and driving without wearing a seatbelt and the reductions in these risks due to hypothetical new pollution laws, quitting smoking, and wearing a seat belt. Risk information was presented in terms of a log scale, prevalence rates, relative risk, or probabilities across subjects. After reading the descriptions, participants answered questions designed to assess how well they had understood and remembered what they had read. Participants answered the same questions again either 2 or 9 days later. Preliminary data indicate that method of presentation of risk information affected accuracy of answers both immediately after reading the descriptions and after different delays. The results of this study will be relevant to determining the best method for providing such information to the public. |
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| 54. Child Welfare Outcome Measures: What, Why, and How |
| Area: CSE; Domain: Applied Research |
| DAVID GELLER (University of South Florida), Michael Cripe (University of South Florida), Randi Pickle (University of South Florida), Terresa A. Kenney (University of South Florida), Bryon Neff (University of South Florida) |
| Abstract: It can be extremely difficult when working in applied settings to collect data that clearly demonstrate cause and effect, or lack of. This report discusses this difficulty relative to the assessment of the efficacy of behavior analytic services provided to caregivers and children in a child welfare arena. In addition to presenting a brief summary of various outcome measures used by other researchers, the report describes variables relevant to the selection of these measures, and recent efforts to select outcome measures that have social validity and are also likely to be consistently documented. |
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| 55. Time Allocation by Behavior Analysts Working in a Child Welfare Agency: Part II |
| Area: CSE; Domain: Applied Research |
| DAVID GELLER (University of South Florida), Bryon Neff (University of South Florida) |
| Abstract: A previous report examined the time allocation of one of several statewide teams of 3 behavior analysts and a supervising senior behavior analyst assigned to offer behavior analytic services to local child welfare providers. Job responsibilities included providing behavioral parent training for foster, biological, and adoptive parents as well as various agency staff. Behavior analysts also conducted functional assessments of challenging behavior of children. Each behavior analyst tracked their daily activities on a 15-minute interval log. Briefly, a summary of the data indicated that the senior behavior analyst devoted 82 percent of working hours to administrative activities and the behavior analysts devoted 58 percent of working hours to training activities. The current report expands the previous analysis to include data from two teams of behavior analysts. Analyses include a comparison of data for each of three senior behavior analysts, a comparison of data for each of three teams of behavior analysts, a comparison of data for senior behavior analysts to data for behavior analysts, and a comparison of data for one team across two consecutive years. |
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| 56. Why Can't They Be Like Us? Obstacles to Implementing Behavioral Interventions in Community Substance Abuse Programs |
| Area: CSE; Domain: Applied Research |
| JENNIFER GUTIERREZ (Treatment Research Institute), Katherine Smith (Treatment Research Institute), Julie M. Wosak (Treatment Research Institute), Lois A. Benishek (Treatment Research Institute), Mary Louise E. Kerwin (University of Pennsylvania), Kimberly C. Kirby (Treatment Research Institute) |
| Abstract: Although positive reinforcement of drug abstinence is one of the most effective treatments of substance abuse, community providers often reject these interventions. Possible reasons for this rejection may be incompatible practitioner philosophy, lack of knowledge and or experience with these interventions, doubts about its effectiveness, or issues surrounding implementation. The purpose of this study is to document and better understand the objections counselors and program directors have regarding contingency management programs. Using a 5-point Likert scale, 363 treatment staff from three regions completed a 47-item questionnaire asking them to rate their agreement with different facets of tangible and social reinforcement procedures. Overall, social consequences were more supported than tangible incentives (t = -18.5, p = .00). Attitudes towards contingency management varied as a function of academic preparation, previous experience with behavioral interventions, and region. Both previous experience with contingency management programs and a more advanced degree appeared to impact philosophical issues and beliefs about the effectiveness of incentive programs for program attendance and abstinence, while regional differences appeared to impact practical issues of implementation of contingency management programs. These results have implications for how best to achieve transfer of behavioral technology to community providers of substance abuse treatments. |
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| 57. The Effects of Prompts, Environmental Alteration, and Feedback on the Reduction of Food Waste |
| Area: CSE; Domain: Applied Research |
| SHEZEEN OAH (Chung-Ang University, South Korea), Sun Young Park (Chung-Ang University, South Korea) |
| Abstract: This study examined the effects of prompts, environmental alteration, and feedback on the reduction of food waste in a student cafeteria in a university building. Participant were college students, professors, and employees. The dependent variables were (1) total weight of food waste per day, (2), the weight of food waste per person, (3) the ratio of food waste to total food served per day, (4) total amount of monetary value for food waste per day. An A-BC-BCD-BC within subject design was employed. After baseline phase(A), prompts and environmental alteration were introduced in the second phase(BC). In the next phase(BCD), feedback was added in addition to the prompts and environmental alteration. In the last phase(B), all treatments except environmental alteration were withdrawn. The results indicated that prompts and environmental alteration were effective in reducing food wastes. When feedback was added, however, the additional effect of feedback was not observed. |
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| 58. Intervening to Influence Fast-Food Choices: Measuring Response Generalization in Nutrition-Related Behavior |
| Area: CSE; Domain: Applied Research |
| WES R. KEENE (Center for Applied Behavior Systems), E. Scott Geller (Center for Applied Behavior Systems), Rachel Andrews (Center for Applied Behavior Systems), Heather Harmon (Center for Applied Behavior Systems), Takashi Hirota (Center for Applied Behavior Systems) |
| Abstract: Previous studies have explored the phenomenon of response generalization, where the presentation of one stimulus impacts different responses or behaviors. The present study measures the effects of increasing the purchase of a healthier sandwich on the purchases of other menu items in a restaurant, to determine if consumers make additional healthy choices when prompted to choose a healthy sandwich. Data was recorded at three separate Burger King locations. The restaurants each received three phases: Restaurant 1 received the following phases: A--B--A, Restaurant 2 received A--A--B, and Restaurant 3 received A--A--A. The phases were defined as: A=Baseline and B=Intervention, with each phase lasting two weeks. Coupons promoting a discount on both a healthier sandwich combo with fries, and a healthier sandwich combo with a salad were distributed during the Intervention phase. The total number of all menu items sold was recorded for every day at each location, including the number sold for each type of combo. Comparisons were made between restaurants, as well as within restaurants, using Analyses of Variance to determine which combo and menu items sold better under specified conditions. The results and implications of the data on response generalization will be discussed. |
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| 59. The Effects of an Individualized Electronic Feedback Speed Sign On the Speed of Traffic |
| Area: CSE; Domain: Applied Research |
| JAIME FLORES (University of North Texas), Richard G. Smith (University of North Texas), Lloyd Buckner (University of North Texas), Caroline Cason Stevens (University of North Texas), Kathleen M. Clark (University of North Texas) |
| Abstract: The effects of an individualized electronic feedback sign on the speed of traffic were assessed using an ABC non-simultaneous multiple baseline. Sessions consisted of 20 vehicle samples and the data were analyzed as percent of sample driving over the speed limit on a University Campus. The speed of a vehicle was attained via a police issued radar gun. Speeds were taken on a 30s schedule using an exclusion criteria. Results indicate that that percent of speeders in the A condition was highly variable, while the in the B condition the percentages were slightly lower yet still variable. In the C condition (sign activated) the overall percentage of vehicles traveling over the speed limit decreased to near zero rates consistently in one setting. |
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| 60. The Ubiquity, Effectiveness, and Ignorance of "Time Out from Positive Reinforcement" |
| Area: CSE; Domain: Applied Research |
| STEPHEN RAY FLORA (Youngstown State University), Holly Long (Youngstown State University) |
| Abstract: College Students were surveyed on: as a child did they ever receive a "time out," and if so, what effect it had on the contingent behavior and other behaviors; as an adult if they ever gave a time out, and if so, what effect it had on the contingent behavior and other behaviors. They were also asked if they knew and could write the full term for Time out - "Time out from positive reinforcement." 78% reported receiving a time out as a child and 93% of those reported stopping or reducing the frequency of the contingent behavior. 48% reported giving time outs as adults and 91% of those reported the time out stopped or reduced the frequency of the contingent behavior. Yet only respondents who had previously taken Applied Behavior Analysis (less than 10%) knew the full term "Time Out from Positive Reinforcement." These results suggest time out is a widely used, highly effective behavior reducing procedure. But the basis and scientific foundation of time out is widely unknown. |
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| 61. Induction by Prior Jackpots and Habituation to Present Jackpots in Public Gaming |
| Area: CSE; Domain: Applied Research |
| ABBY M. KIKLEVICH (Eastern Oregon University), Charles A. Lyons (Eastern Oregon University) |
| Abstract: Large-scale lotteries attract millions of players, yet interest is declining in these games. While there is an overall trend of declining participation in all lotteries, previous analyses have suggested that interest is declining fastest for successive opportunities to bet on the largest jackpots. To see if this trend is continuing, game data were collected and evaluated on both the Megabucks lottery in Oregon and the multi-state Powerball lottery, for all games conducted from inception through 2002. Data were also examined to determine if very large jackpots were associated with increased participation in later games, after the large jackpots were claimed. Results suggest that large jackpots did generate less participation on successive occasions, but also that a very large prior jackpot value continued to drive some betting in the subsequent (reset) game. Early in the history of the Powerball game, this induction effect was more apparent, but now is seen in only the largest jackpots (over $60 million). These analyses show that the public gambling data are useful to researchers seeking to understand the factors influencing large-scale betting. |
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| 62. A Behavioral Approach for Investigating Alcohol Consumption at College Football Tailgate Parties |
| Area: CSE; Domain: Applied Research |
| ERIC RAYMOND (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University), Steven W. Clarke (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University), Christopher B. Robichaux (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University), Shane'a Thomas (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University) |
| Abstract: The goal of this research project was to gain a better understanding of alcohol use patterns and intoxication levels of tailgaters, especially drivers, at collegiate football games. Eighty-six percent of tailgaters had consumed alcohol at their pre-game tailgate party. Pre-game Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) levels ranged from .000 to .253 (M = .074), with 21.2% of tailgaters having a BAC between .050 and .079, and 46.2% having a BAC ³ .080. Men were significantly more intoxicated (M = .089) than women (M = .050). Among those tailgaters who intended to drive after the game, 13.3% were at-risk for driving under the influence (DUI) (.05 £ BAC < .08) and 33.4% were legally intoxicated (BAC ³ .08) at their pre-game tailgate party. The BACs at post-game tailgate parties ranged from .000 to .184, with an average BAC of .065. Tailgaters who described themselves as a designated driver had an average BAC of .023, compared to other drivers who had an average BAC of .072. In addition, 50.0% of drivers were at risk for impaired driving (.050 £ BAC < .08) and 12.5% of the drivers were legally intoxicated (BAC ³ .080). Results will be presented with implications for preventing DUI. |
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