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GROUP BEHAVIOR OF RATS UNDER SCHEDULES OF REINFORCEMENT 1
Author(s) -
Grott Robert,
Neuringer Allen
Publication year - 1974
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.1974.22-311
Subject(s) - reinforcement , lever , extinction (optical mineralogy) , schedule , group (periodic table) , psychology , differential reinforcement , audiology , developmental psychology , social psychology , computer science , medicine , physics , optics , operating system , quantum mechanics
Groups of three rats were placed in a chamber containing one response lever and one water dispenser. A variety of schedule conditions were explored including fixed ratio, extinction, satiation, fixed interval, fixed time, differential reinforcement of low rates, and discrimination learning. Each group was treated as a single unit, with the collective lever responses emitted by the three rats being the main dependent variable. Group responding was found to be controlled by the reinforcement schedules in an orderly and consistent manner. However, the groups often paused less and responded faster than individual rats working under identical conditions.