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. 1984 Mar;41(2):183–192. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1984.41-183

Confirmation of linear system theory prediction: Changes in Herrnstein's k as a function of changes in reinforcer magnitude

J J McDowell, Helena M Wood
PMCID: PMC1348031  PMID: 16812366

Abstract

Eight human subjects pressed a lever on a range of variable-interval schedules for 0.25¢ to 35.0¢ per reinforcement. Herrnstein's hyperbola described seven of the eight subjects' response-rate data well. For all subjects, the y-asymptote of the hyperbola increased with increasing reinforcer magnitude and its reciprocal was a linear function of the reciprocal of reinforcer magnitude. These results confirm predictions made by linear system theory; they contradict formal properties of Herrnstein's account and of six other mathematical accounts of single-alternative responding.

Keywords: linear system theory, Herrnstein's equation, quantitative law of effect, choice, reinforcer magnitude, variable-interval schedules, lever press, 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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