Evaluating contributions of progressive ratio analysis to economic metrics of demand

Progressive ratio analysis (PRA) has been used to quantify the relative reinforcer efficacy of various programmed consequences across basic and applied research paradigms. It has also been used as an alternative methodology for demand-curve analysis. In this study, we enrolled 96 consenting adults with disabilities to participate in a translational controlled consecutive case series. Specifically, we compensated participants for using an arbitrary response (e.g., a die roll) to demonstrate the circumstances under which they would work to earn preferred reinforcers in both Basis x PRA and progressive fixed ratio analysis (PFRA) paradigms. Using t tests of logarithmically transformed Pearson correlation coefficients, we established that Basis x PRA did not correlate with metrics of demand elasticity obtained from PFRA. However, Basis x PRA significantly predicted multiple metrics of equilibrium observed during PFRA. Consequently, the assessment likely retains prescriptive value across a number of domains.