Effects of Self-reinforcement and Stimulants on Academic Performance in Children With Attention Deficit Disorder

The present study investigated the effects of Ritalin and self-reinforcement, alone and in combination, on academic performance. Six male students, aged 9 to 12, diagnosed "Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity," served in a series of single-subject studies using a combined operant/inverted design. Following 2 weeks of baseline conditions, each boy received seven treatment phases consisting of: Ritalin (plus noncontingent reinforcers), self-reinforcement (plus a drug placebo), and Ritalin plus self-reinforcement. It was found that, whereas self-reinforcement was better than Ritalin alone, the combination of both was the most effective.