Human schedule performance, protocol analysis, and the "silent dog" methodology

  1. Cabello, F. 2
  2. Luciano, C. 3
  3. Gomez, I. 3
  4. Barnes-Holmes, D. 1
  1. 1 National University of Ireland
    info

    National University of Ireland

    Dublín, Irlanda

    ROR https://ror.org/00shsf120

  2. 2 Universidad de La Rioja
    info

    Universidad de La Rioja

    Logroño, España

    ROR https://ror.org/0553yr311

  3. 3 Universidad de Almería
    info

    Universidad de Almería

    Almería, España

    ROR https://ror.org/003d3xx08

Revista:
Psychological Record

ISSN: 0033-2933

Ano de publicación: 2004

Volume: 54

Número: 3

Páxinas: 405-422

Tipo: Artigo

Outras publicacións en: Psychological Record

Resumo

The purpose of the current experiment was to investigate the role of private verbal behavior on the operant performances of human adults, using a protocol analysis procedure with additional methodological controls (the "silent dog" method). Twelve subjects were exposed to fixed ratio 8 and differential reinforcement of low rate 3-s schedules. For 6 subjects, verbal self-reports were recorded concurrently during exposure to the reinforcement schedules. Results showed a significant relationship between certain types of rules and task performances, and especially between counting and schedule-sensitive performance. A detailed analysis also suggested that counting facilitated the discrimination of programmed contingencies in the current task. Suggestions are offered for further research involving the use of the protocol analysis methodology.