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PARAMETERS AFFECTING THE MAINTENANCE OF NEGATIVELY REINFORCED KEY PECKING 1
Author(s) -
Gardner Edward T.,
Lewis Paul
Publication year - 1977
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.1977.28-117
Subject(s) - peck (imperial) , pecking order , shock (circulatory) , reinforcement , psychology , zoology , mathematics , social psychology , biology , medicine , geometry , evolutionary biology
Three negative reinforcement experiments employing a key‐peck response are described. In Experiment I, pigeons shocked on the average of twice per minute (imposed condition) could produce, by pecking a key, an alternate condition with correlated stimuli. Delayed shocks were added, across sessions, to the alternate condition until pecking stopped. Two of three pigeons continued to peck despite a 100% increase in shock frequency. In Experiment II, pigeons were shocked in the imposed condition four times per minute. The postresponse delay to shock was held constant by delivering, in the alternate condition, the next shock, or the next two, three, or four shocks from the imposed‐condition shock schedule. All three subjects continued to peck with no change in delay to the first two postresponse shocks but with a 75% reduction in shock frequency. In Experiment III, a response produced an immediate shock followed by a shock‐free period. Three of four subjects continued to respond despite reduced delay to shock. Delay‐to‐shock or shock‐frequency reduction was sufficient to maintain key pecking, but neither was necessary. The conditions that negatively reinforce the pigeon's key peck were similar to conditions that negatively reinforce the rat's bar press.