Response-contingent positive stimulation of the part-word repetitions displayed by four stutterers

To assess the effect of response-contingent positive stimulation on the frequency of part-word repetitions displayed by stutterers, a single subject design was used. Four subjects were seen separately in an experimental session comprised of initial, experimental and final segments. During the experimental segment, money, the positive stimulus, was delivered contingent upon the occurrence of a part-word repetition.The data were analyzed statistically to determine the significance of differences in the frequency of part-word repetitions. This analysis did not demonstrate an effect of response-contingent positive stimulation on the part-word repetitions of any of the four subjects.The evidence obtained in this study supports the findings of previous research; some verbal behaviors of stutterers are unaffected by response-contingent stimulation. It appears necessary to investigate the effect of response-contingent stimulation on other separate behaviors as whole word repetition, phrase repetition, and hesitation for determination of their manipulability. The successful use of this procedure as a therapeutic treatment is dependent upon such a differential behavioral analysis.