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. 1977 Sep;28(2):155–161. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1977.28-155

Yoked variable-ratio and variable-interval responding in pigeons1

A Charles Catania, T James Matthews, Phillip J Silverman, Rona Yohalem
PMCID: PMC1333627  PMID: 16812022

Abstract

Pigeons' key pecks were maintained by variable-ratio or variable-interval schedules of food reinforcement. For pairs of pigeons in one group, variable-ratio reinforcement was arranged for one pigeon's pecks; for the second pigeon, reinforcement was arranged according to a variable-interval schedule yoked to the interreinforcement times produced by the first pigeon. For pairs of pigeons in another group, variable-interval reinforcement was arranged for one pigeon's pecks; for the second pigeon, reinforcement was arranged according to a variable-ratio schedule yoked to the interreinforcement responses produced by the first pigeon. For each pair, the yoking procedure was maintained for four or five consecutive sessions of 50 reinforcements each. In more than three-quarters of the pairs, variable-ratio response rates were higher than variable-interval rates within two sessions; in all cases, the rate difference developed within four sessions.

Keywords: variable-interval schedule, variable-ratio schedule, yoked schedules, time per reinforcement, responses per reinforcement, shaping, undergraduate laboratory course, key pecks, 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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