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SOME FACTORS CONTROLLING PREFERENCE BETWEEN FIXED‐RATIO AND VARIABLE RATIO SCHEDULES OF REINFORCEMENT 1
Author(s) -
Sherman James A.,
Thomas John R.
Publication year - 1968
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.1968.11-689
Subject(s) - reinforcement , pecking order , schedule , variable (mathematics) , computer science , statistics , psychology , mathematics , social psychology , biology , ecology , mathematical analysis , operating system
A multiple schedule of food reinforcement for key‐pecking was arranged which consisted of nine fixed‐ratios, each of which operated in the presence of a different stimulus. Pigeons could complete a given fixed‐ratio within the multiple schedule or, by pecking a second key, could switch from the fixed‐ratio schedule to a variable‐ratio schedule consisting of the same nine ratios. Stable switching behavior was established which did not maximize simple probability or rate of reinforcement. Instead, the subjects showed a stable preference for the variable‐ratio schedule of food reinforcement. Increasing the number of responses required to switch, and removing the occasions on which reinforcement was delivered after a single response in the variable schedule, decreased the number of switches to the variable schedule. Periods of delay interposed between a completed switch and the availability of reinforcement after one response in the variable schedule also decreased switching to the variable schedule, particularly at long delay intervals.