Probabilistic reward has been shown to affect children's choice behavior in game-like activities. We examined the effects of a lottery system containing progressively lower exchange ratios on children's completion of math problems. Two of the 3 children completed problems above baseline levels until the chance of exchange dropped to 25%. This study describes a potentially useful method for examining reinforcement schedules in applied settings and extends previous research on probabilities of reinforcement.

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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1284402PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1901/jaba.2002.35-403DOI Listing

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