This study examined the influence of punishment contingencies on verbal (report responses) and nonverbal (matching responses) performances. College students were exposed to a matching-to-sample task. After a matching response was made, the question "Did you score?" was presented and the subject had to make a report indicating one of two alternatives, "YES" or "NO". In Experiment 1, the feedback "Incorrect. You lost 1 point" was scheduled to report responses whereas, in Experiment 2, the same feedback was contingent on matching responses. In Experiment 1, the feedback had punitive effects on report responses and, in most conditions, did not affect matching responses. In Experiment 2, the feedback did not exerted control upon matching responses, but it influenced report responses. These results suggest that verbal and nonverbal performances are functionally independent. The present study provide evidence for the operant nature of self-reports and, in identifying possible control variables of such behavior, it contributes to a greater reliability of self-report data.
punishment; self-reports; verbal control
