Reinforcing Exercise Maintenance

This study compared two types of physical education activities to determine which might be more reinforcing to 10 mentally retarded subjects, as measured by actual participation rates. Using a multielement baseline design, two 15-minute sessions were offered daily, one under an exercise condition and the other under a games condition. Results showed higher participation in games than in exercises and that subjects did not complete exercises to criterion when prompted to do so. A Premack group contingency was then implemented in which the availability of games was made contingent upon completion of all exercises to criterion by all subjects. The procedure led to increases in both exercise participation and completion, as well as a decrease in the amount of time required to conduct the exercise session.