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Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior logoLink to Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
. 1971 May;15(3):303–310. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1971.15-303

Second-order schedules with fixed-ratio components: variation of component size1

Julia K Lee, Lewis R Gollub
PMCID: PMC1333841  PMID: 16811516

Abstract

Key pecking by pigeons was reinforced with food under second-order schedules with fixed-ratio units. A constant total number of key pecks was required for reinforcement under each condition, but the size and, inversely, number of fixed-ratio components were varied. The total response requirement of 256 pecks was divided into fixed-ratio units of 128, 64, 32, 8, and 2 responses. A brief stimulus, which always preceded food reinforcement, was presented upon completion of each fixed-ratio unit. Under most conditions, the pattern of within-unit responding was typical of that under simple fixed-ratio schedules. Overall response rate was an inverted U-shaped function of component size. That is, response rates were highest under moderate sized units (fixed ratio 128 and 64). This relationship is consistent with previous determinations of rate as a function of fixed-ratio value for simple fixed-ratio schedules.

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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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