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Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior logoLink to Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
. 1976 Sep;26(2):135–141. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1976.26-135

Behavior of humans in variable-interval schedules of reinforcement1

C M Bradshaw, E Szabadi, P Bevan
PMCID: PMC1333500  PMID: 16811935

Abstract

During Phase I, human subjects pressed a button for monetary reinforcement in five variable-interval schedules, each of which specified a different frequency of reinforcement. The rate of responding was an increasing, negatively accelerated function of reinforcement frequency; the data conformed closely to Herrnstein's equation. During Phase II, the same five schedules were in operation, but in addition a concurrent variable-interval schedule (B) was introduced, responses on which were always reinforced at the same frequency. Response rate in component A increased while the response rate in B decreased, as a function of the reinforcement frequency in component A. Relative response rates in the two component schedules matched the relative frequencies of reinforcement. Comparing the absolute response rates in component A during Phase I and Phase II it was found that introduction of the concurrent schedule did not affect the value of the theoretical maximum response rate, but did increase the value of the reinforcement frequency needed to obtain any particular submaximal response rate.

Keywords: Herrnstein's equation, response rate, reinforcement frequency, matching law, concurrent schedules, variable interval, button pressing, humans

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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