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THE SUCCESSIVE DIFFERENTIATION OF A LEVER DISPLACEMENT RESPONSE 1
Author(s) -
Herrick Robert M.
Publication year - 1964
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.1964.7-211
Subject(s) - lever , reinforcement , displacement (psychology) , mathematics , limit (mathematics) , physics , mathematical analysis , structural engineering , psychology , engineering , quantum mechanics , psychotherapist
Maximum displacements of lever presses by rats were recorded under eight successively‐smaller reinforcement zones (RZ). The largest RZ included displacements from 3° to 44°; the smallest, from 24° to 29°. As the RZ decreased, displacement distributions reflected a least‐effort tendency: distributions peaked at the lower limit of RZ and most non‐reinforced presses fell just below the lower limit. Successive distributions (a) differed significantly in shape, (b) showed reduced variability, and (c) indicated more presses and more presses per reinforcement. Prolonged training under the smallest RZ gave no improvement in performance.