Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior logoLink to Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
. 1971 Sep;16(2):249–256. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1971.16-249

Effects of symmetrical and asymmetrical changeover delays on concurrent performances1

Stanley S Pliskoff
PMCID: PMC1333875  PMID: 16811546

Abstract

Two variable-interval 3-min schedules functioned concurrently to arrange reinforcement of a pigeon's pecks on a single key, the main key. Each schedule was associated with a distinct color of the main key; a response on a second key alternated the color and schedule assignment of the main key. A changeover delay, a period of time following schedule and key-color alternation during which reinforcement of responding on the main key could not occur, was arranged with equal or with unequal durations for the two directions of alternation. Durations were varied from 0.33 sec to 27 sec, in addition to no delay. With equal delays for the two directions of alternation, the pigeon alternated the schedules less often the larger the delay duration. When the delays in the two directions of alternation were unequal, it could be shown that alternation of the schedules was reduced both by a delay just incurred by the last alternation and by a. delay to be incurred by the next. The latter delay was more potent in reducing the frequency of alternations.

Full text

PDF
249

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Baum W. M., Rachlin H. C. Choice as time allocation. J Exp Anal Behav. 1969 Nov;12(6):861–874. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1969.12-861. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Brownstein A. J., Pliskoff S. S. Some effects of relative reinforcement rate and changeover delay in response-independent concurrent schedules of reinforcement. J Exp Anal Behav. 1968 Nov;11(6):683–688. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1968.11-683. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. CATANIA A. C. Concurrent performances: a baseline for the study of reinforcement magnitude. J Exp Anal Behav. 1963 Apr;6:299–300. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1963.6-299. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. CATANIA A. C. Independence of concurrent responding maintained by interval schedules of reinforcement. J Exp Anal Behav. 1962 Apr;5:175–184. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1962.5-175. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Chung S. H., Herrnstein R. J. Choice and delay of reinforcement. J Exp Anal Behav. 1967 Jan;10(1):67–74. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1967.10-67. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Findley J. D. Preference and Switching under Concurrent Scheduling. J Exp Anal Behav. 1958 Apr;1(2):123–144. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1958.1-123. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. HERRNSTEIN R. J. Relative and absolute strength of response as a function of frequency of reinforcement. J Exp Anal Behav. 1961 Jul;4:267–272. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1961.4-267. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Herrnstein R. J. On the law of effect. J Exp Anal Behav. 1970 Mar;13(2):243–266. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1970.13-243. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Pliskoff S. S., Hawkins T. D. A method for increasing the reinforcement magnitude of intracranial stimulation. J Exp Anal Behav. 1967 May;10(3):281–289. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1967.10-281. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Pliskoff S. S., Shull R. L., Gollub L. R. The relation between response rates and reinforcement rates in a multiple schedule. J Exp Anal Behav. 1968 May;11(3):271–284. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1968.11-271. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Shull R. L., Pliskoff S. S. Changeover delay and concurrent schedules: some effects on relative performance measures. J Exp Anal Behav. 1967 Nov;10(6):517–527. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1967.10-517. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Silberberg A., Fantino E. Choice, rate of reinforcement, and the changeover delay. J Exp Anal Behav. 1970 Mar;13(2):187–197. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1970.13-187. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. 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]
  14. Ten Eyck R. L. Effects of rate of reinforcement-time upon concurrent operant performance. J Exp Anal Behav. 1970 Nov;14(3):269–274. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1970.14-269. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Todorov J. C. Concurrent performances: effect of punishment contingent on the switching response. J Exp Anal Behav. 1971 Jul;16(1):51–62. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1971.16-51. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior are provided here courtesy of Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior

RESOURCES