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| Current Laboratory and Applied Studies in Organizational Behavior Management |
| Monday, May 31, 2010 |
| 10:30 AM–11:50 AM |
| Republic A (Grand Hyatt) |
| Area: OBM; Domain: Applied Behavior Analysis |
| Chair: Julie M. Slowiak (University of Minnesota Duluth) |
| Abstract: In recent years there has been a growing discussion among OBMers regarding the need and value of both applied and laboratory studies. This symposium presents recent research regarding the use of behavioral principles in both laboratory and applied settings. The first paper examines the frequency of feedback solicitation under different monetary pay conditions. Results suggest that neither the incentives nor the evaluative component made feedback more reinforcing. The second paper examines the effects of several web-based training programs designed by a consulting firm on the acquisition and retention of automotive product knowledge. Implications for future research and applied practice are presented. The third paper examines the use of a descriptive prompting procedure to increase safe pedestrian crossing behaviors on a university campus. The fourth paper examines the use of a descriptive prompting procedure to increase hand washing of patrons on a university campus. |
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| The Impact of Evaluation and Pay Conditions on Feedback Solicitation in the Workplace |
| JULIE M. SLOWIAK (University of Minnesota Duluth), Ashley Nuetzman (University of Minnesota Duluth), Lauren Anthony (University of Minnesota Duluth), Paul Fursman (University of Minnesota Duluth), Karl Harkins (University of Minnesota Duluth) |
| Abstract: This study extends previous research (Slowiak, Dickinson, & Huitema, in press) that examined the frequency of feedback solicitation under different monetary pay conditions. Frequency of feedback solicitation, with and without an evaluative component, was examined under hourly pay and performance-based pay conditions. A two-factor between-subjects design was used with 30 college students in each group: (1) evaluative feedback + hourly pay, (2) objective feedback + hourly pay, (3) evaluative feedback + performance-based pay, or (4) objective feedback + performance-based pay. Participants attended 3 experimental sessions and entered the cash value of simulated bank checks presented on a computer screen. Results indicated that (a) participants paid individual monetary incentives did not self-solicit feedback more often than those paid an hourly wage, (b) participants given an assigned performance goal did not self-solicit feedback more often than those without a goal, (c) task performance was higher for individuals paid monetary incentives, and (d) participants in both pay groups solicited feedback frequently. These results suggest that neither the incentives nor the evaluative component made feedback more reinforcing even though both were functional rewards; further, it may be necessary to pair objective feedback with a more salient evaluative component in order to enhance performance. |
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| A Comparison of Three Training Methods on the Acquisition and Retention of Automotive Product Knowledge |
| RHIANNON M. FANTE (Stephen F. Austin State University), Barbara Bucklin (Ardent Learning), Lori H. Diener (Performance Blueprints), Alyce M. Dickinson (Western Michigan University) |
| Abstract: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a traditional (non-fluency) web-based training program with and without study objectives with a web-based fluency-building training program on the acquisition and retention of automotive product knowledge. The effects of the training conditions were assessed by how accurately and quickly participants responded on a product knowledge test immediately after training, four weeks after training, and eight weeks after training. A three-group between subjects design was used with 20 college students in each group. Results indicated that participants in the fluency training group were more accurate and fluent immediately after training, and four and eight weeks after training than participants in the other two training groups. Although these results suggest that fluency-building training leads to higher levels of performance and retention, practice was not controlled. This study extended previous studies because it examined the effects of fluency training with adult learners who completed training programs that were designed to train actual sales representatives in the automotive industry. |
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| Increasing Safe Crossing Behaviors of Pedestrians on a University Campus |
| AJAL B. PATEL (University of Texas at Arlington), Joshua A. Staley (Stephen F. Austin State University), Rhiannon M. Fante (Stephen F. Austin State University) |
| Abstract: The purpose of the current study was to use a descriptive prompting procedure to increase safe pedestrian crossing behaviors at two crosswalks on a university campus. Data were collected at two separate crosswalks twice a day four days a week and interobserver agreement was collected for 32% of observation sessions. The two locations used for this study were high traffic areas on campus where both motorists and pedestrians converged. During intervention, an undergraduate research assistant stood next to the cross walk holding a sign that read “Please stop and look both ways before crossing” with “Thank you” on the reverse side. The poster was held by the research assistant so that pedestrians approaching the crosswalk could read the sign. When pedestrians approaching the crosswalk made a complete stop and looked both ways before proceeding to cross the street, the research assistant flashed the “thank you” side of the poster to the pedestrian. The prompting procedure was evaluated using an ABAB multiple baseline across settings design. The results indicated that the use of the sign prompting procedure increased pedestrians’ safe crossing behaviors at both locations. |
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| The Effects of Sign Prompts to Encourage Hand Washing |
| ORA L DAVIS (Stephen F. Austin State University), D'oreall Johnson (Stephen F. Austin State University), Shylo Brandenburg (Stephen F. Austin State University), Rhiannon M. Fante (Stephen F. Austin State University) |
| Abstract: The purpose of the current study was to use a descriptive prompting procedure to increase hand washing of patrons on a university campus. Since observation of patrons hand washing behavior in the restrooms was not possible, an outcome measure of hand washing was recorded (i.e., soap usage). Outcome data were collected at the same time every day four days a week for two female and two male restrooms. The two female and two male restrooms were identical in everyway, except that one male and one female restroom were located in one building and the second male and second female restroom were located in another building. During intervention, detailed posters prompting hand washing were placed in several places within each restroom. An additional phase was conducted, in which posters that contained information on H1N1 (Swine Flu) prevention were also posted in all four restrooms. The prompting procedure was evaluated using an ABB1 multiple baseline across settings design. |
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