This study extended earlier research on stimulus preference (SP) and reinforcer efficacy (RE) using the behavioral economic concept of elasticity. The elasticity of demand for different items can be used to simultaneously compare RE across stimuli and schedules of reinforcement. Highly preferred stimuli were identified via SP assessments and evaluated using progressive-ratio reinforcer assessments. Reinforcers were then evaluated across the ranges of elasticity in individual reinforcer evaluations. Results indicated that schedules associated with the ranges of elasticity (e.g., inelastic vs. elastic) corresponded with rates of the targeted behavior (i.e., work) and these trends were consistent with behavioral economic predictions. These findings encourage further inquiry and replication of operant demand methods to identify potential boundary conditions for stimuli identified using SP assessments. Discussion is provided regarding the efficiency of reinforcer assessment and the utility of schedules found to exist in the elastic and inelastic ranges.

中文翻译：

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使用操作性需求框架扩展刺激偏好评估

本研究使用弹性的行为经济学概念扩展了早期对刺激偏好 (SP) 和强化剂功效 (RE) 的研究。不同项目的需求弹性可用于同时比较不同刺激和强化计划的可再生能源。高度偏好的刺激是通过 SP 评估确定的，并使用渐进比率强化剂评估进行评估。然后在单个强化物评估中跨弹性范围评估强化物。结果表明，与弹性范围（例如，非弹性与弹性）相关的时间表与目标行为（即工作）的比率相对应，并且这些趋势与行为经济学预测一致。这些发现鼓励进一步调查和复制操作性需求方法，以确定使用 SP 评估确定的刺激的潜在边界条件。讨论了强化物评估的效率以及发现存在于弹性和非弹性范围内的时间表的效用。