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THE WYCKOFF OBSERVING RESPONSE—A REAPPRAISAL 1
Author(s) -
Hirota Theodore T.
Publication year - 1972
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.1972.18-263
Subject(s) - schedule , stimulus (psychology) , blackout , reinforcement , audiology , psychology , computer science , cognitive psychology , physics , medicine , social psychology , power (physics) , electric power system , quantum mechanics , operating system
Pigeons were trained on a Wyckoff observing response procedure in which key responses were reinforced on a mixed schedule consisting of fixed‐interval and extinction components. In Experiment 1, stepping on a pedal (a) converted the mixed schedule to a multiple schedule, (b) replaced the mixed‐schedule stimulus with an unlit key (or, in different phases, a blackout), or (c) had no consequence. In Experiment 2, pedal standing removed the mixed‐schedule stimulus that was physically similar to the multiple‐schedule stimuli or one that was less similar. In Experiment 3, Wyckoff's differential and nondifferential discrimination procedure was repeated. The results of Experiments 1 and 2 showed that the Wyckoff pedal response was controlled by neither the removal of the mixed‐schedule stimulus nor the production of discriminative stimuli. The results indicated a correlation between key‐response rates and pedal‐standing time. Experiment 3 showed that high response rates to mixed‐schedule stimuli were correlated with little pedal‐standing time while high key‐response rates to multiple‐schedule stimuli were correlated with considerable pedal standing time. The correlation between key‐response rates and pedal‐standing time was related to the physical arrangement between the key and pedal operanda.