The Single Key Impulsivity Paradigm (SKIP) is a tool for studying the rate and pattern of free operant responses for a reward.  The SKIP is designed to be a modified delay discounting task in which longer delays between responses result in greater rewards for the individual.

In the paradigm, participants are free to respond as often as desired to obtain a reward and the size of the reward is related to the delay between consecutive responses.  Most of the previous variations of reward-directed paradigms are forced-choice tasks where participants must choose between sooner-smaller and later-larger rewards.  Because the participant is free to choose the length of the delay between responses for reward, the SKIP permits the research to draw conclusions based on the overall rate and pattern of those responses.  This can be useful for researchers interested in exploring responses related to impulsive behavior and the modifiability of these response patterns with payment.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

A test of alcohol dose effects on multiple behavioral measures of impulsivity.
Dougherty, D. M., Marsh-Richard, D. M., Hatzis, E. S., Nouvion, S. O., and Mathias, C.W. (2008).   
Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 96, 111-120.

Laboratory measures of impulsivity.
Dougherty, D. M., Mathias, C. W., Marsh, D. M., and Jagar, A. A. (2005).   
Behavior Research Methods, 37, 82-90. 

Behavioral impulsivity paradigms: A comparison of hospitalized adolescents with Disruptive Behavior Disorders.
Dougherty, D. M., Bjork, J. M., Harper, R. A., Marsh, D. M., Moeller, F. G., Mathias, C. W., and Swann, A. C. (2003).   
Journal of Psychology and Psychiatry, 44, 1145-1157. 

Comparison of women with high and low trait impulsivity using behavioral measures of response-disinhibition and reward-choice. 
Marsh, D. M., Dougherty, D. M., Mathias, C. W., Moeller, F. G., and Hicks, L. R. (2002). 
Personality and Individual Differences, 33,1291-1310.

Laboratory measures of impulsivity: A comparison of women with or without childhood aggression.
Mathias, C. W., Dougherty, D.M., Marsh, D.M., Moeller, F.G., Hicks, L.R., Dasher, K., and Bar-Eli, L. (2002).   
The Psychological Record, 52, 289-303.

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