Abstract
Five pigeons were trained in a concurrent-chain procedure. In the initial links, equal nonindependent variable-interval schedules were available concurrently on two keys. Completing the schedule on either key led to exclusive presentation of one of two further variable-interval schedules for a fixed period of time. During these terminal links, as many reinforcers as were scheduled could be obtained. If the response producing this terminal link occurred on one key, differential stimuli signaled which variable-interval schedule had been produced. If the response producing the terminal link occurred on the other key, no such differential stimuli were available. Once the fixed period of time elapsed, the initial links were reinstated. In Experiment 1, the period of time for which the terminal links were available was always 10 s and the absolute duration of the initial links was varied. Subjects preferred the alternative leading to the multiple schedule when the initial-link duration was short, but preferred the alternative leading to the mixed schedule when the initial-link durations were longer. In Experiment 2, both the initial-link duration and the duration of the terminal links were varied. The effect of initial-link duration was identical to that in Experiment 1 and there was no systematic effect of varying the terminal-link duration.
Keywords: concurrent chain, multiple schedule, mixed schedule, preference, key peck, pigeon
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Branch M. N. Observing responses in pigeons: effects of schedule component duration and schedule value. J Exp Anal Behav. 1973 Nov;20(3):417–428. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1973.20-417. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Davison M. Bias and sensitivity to reinforcement in a concurrent-chain schedule. J Exp Anal Behav. 1983 Jul;40(1):15–34. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1983.40-15. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Fantino E. Choice and rate of reinforcement. J Exp Anal Behav. 1969 Sep;12(5):723–730. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1969.12-723. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Fantino E., Davison M. Choice: Some quantitative relations. J Exp Anal Behav. 1983 Jul;40(1):1–13. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1983.40-1. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Fantino E., Moore J. Uncertainty reduction, conditioned reinforcement, and observing. J Exp Anal Behav. 1980 Jan;33(1):3–13. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1980.33-3. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Green L., Rachlin H. Pigeons' preferences for stimulus information: effects of amount of information. J Exp Anal Behav. 1977 Mar;27(2):255–263. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1977.27-255. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hursh S. R., Fantino E. An appraisal of preference for multiple versus mixed schedules. J Exp Anal Behav. 1974 Jul;22(1):31–38. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1974.22-31. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- McMillan J. C. Average uncertainty as a determinant of observing behavior. J Exp Anal Behav. 1974 Sep;22(2):401–408. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1974.22-401. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Stubbs D. A., Pliskoff S. S. Concurrent responding with fixed relative rate of reinforcement. J Exp Anal Behav. 1969 Nov;12(6):887–895. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1969.12-887. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]