Effects of Modeling and Positive Reinforcement on Children’s Fruit Consumption

Abstract This study evaluated the effects of modeling (videos) and consequences on fruit consumption of three preschool children. In Experiment 1, videos were presented, and subsequently, consequences. In Experiment 2, consequences were programmed, then videos and consequences were presented together. In Experiment 1, consumption was greater during presentation of consequences; in Experiment 2, videos and consequences together produced higher consumption than only consequences, suggesting an enhancing effect of videos. Gradual change in the intermittence of consequences reduced consumption for three participants in Experiment 1, but increased consumption for the two participants affected by the interventions in Experiment 2. Consumption was greater in BLII, compared to BLI, but it was lower than during interventions, indicating temporary effect of such interventions on consumption.

摘要 本研究评估了视频示范与行为后果对三名学龄前儿童水果摄入行为的影响。实验1中，先呈现视频示范，随后施加行为后果；实验2中则先设置行为后果，再同时呈现视频示范与行为后果。实验1结果显示，施加行为后果阶段的水果摄入量更高；实验2中，同时呈现视频示范与行为后果时的摄入量高于仅施加行为后果时，表明视频示范具有增强效果。实验1中，行为后果的间歇性逐步调整降低了三名被试的摄入量，但实验2中受干预措施影响的两名被试的摄入量却有所提升。相较于基线一期（Baseline I, BLI），基线二期（Baseline II, BLII）的水果摄入量更高，但仍低于干预阶段，说明此类干预对摄入量仅存在暂时性影响。