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SOME EFFECTS OF RESPONSE COST UPON HUMAN OPERANT BEHAVIOR
Author(s) -
Weiner Harold
Publication year - 1962
Publication title -
journal of the experimental analysis of behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.75
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1938-3711
pISSN - 0022-5002
DOI - 10.1901/jeab.1962.5-201
Subject(s) - reinforcement , operant conditioning , computer science , observer (physics) , psychology , artificial intelligence , social psychology , physics , quantum mechanics
Three experiments are reported which investigated the effects of cost (point loss per response) upon human‐observer responses maintained by VI and FI schedules of reinforcement (acquisition of points via critical‐signal detections). (I) Cost attenuated VI response rates without substantially disturbing the constancy of responding, regardless of the presentation sequence of the no‐cost and cost conditions. (II) FI scalloping appeared only under cost conditions. Under no cost, a constant rate of responding (similar to VI performance) characterized inter‐reinforcement intervals. Exposure to cost did not prevent the recovery of previously established no‐cost baselines. (III) FI irregularities, analogous to those commonly observed under FI reinforcement schedules, may be produced by different temporal presentations of the no‐cost and cost conditions. The results of all three experiments emphasize the importance of cost as a factor in the maintenance of human behavior on schedules of positive reinforcement.