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PLOTTING AND ANALYZING CUMULATIVE RESPONSE CURVES IN OPERANT CONDITIONING STUDIES 1
Author(s) -
Herrick Robert M.
Publication year - 1965
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.1965.8-59
Subject(s) - value (mathematics) , operant conditioning , statistics , arc (geometry) , conditioning , mathematics , response time , computer science , psychology , geometry , social psychology , computer graphics (images) , reinforcement
Because the response and time scales used in plotting cumulative response curves are often poorly selected, ineffective displays often result. The visual cue of a response rate change is the difference, Δθ, between the angles, θ 1 and θ 2 , representing the two rates, R 1 and R 2 . These variables are related by: tan θ 2 = R 2 /R 1 tan θ 1 . For a given rate change, the value of θ 1 , namely, M θ 1 , that yields the maximum value of Δθ, namely, Δθ max , is given by M θ 1 = arc sin. Ideally, the initial response rate should be represented by the M θ 1 appropriate for a given rate change. Because of practical considerations, however, some compromises with the ideal are allowable. Included in the discussion are (a) steps required to select appropriate response and time scales, with examples, and (b) guideposts for evaluating rate changes by means of angular changes.