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Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior logoLink to Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
. 1977 Mar;27(2):235–244. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1977.27-235

Time limits for completing fixed ratios. IV. Components of the ratio1

Anthony J DeCasper, Michael D Zeiler
PMCID: PMC1333587  PMID: 16811986

Abstract

Pigeons received food after completing a fixed ratio if the temporal properties of responding exceeded minimum duration requirements. In one set of conditions, a minimum time had to elapse before the first response of the ratio (the initial pause). In another set, the minimum duration was the time between the first and last response of the ratio. Obtained times increased as a power function of required times in both conditions. The power function resembled that occurring in experiments involving temporal differentiation of individual responses, interresponse times, latencies, and entire fixed-ratio sequences. Moreover, in all of these experiments individual performances could be described as a function of the base duration (the duration occurring in the absence of temporal requirements) and the specific time requirement. Control conditions indicated that the effects resulted from temporal requirements and not from reinforcer intermittency.

Keywords: fixed-ratio schedule, temporal differentiation, postreinforcement pause, run time, quantitative analysis, base duration, key peck, pigeons

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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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