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CHOICE BETWEEN REWARDS DIFFERING IN AMOUNT AND DELAY: TOWARD A CHOICE MODEL OF SELF CONTROL
Author(s) -
Green Leonard,
Snyderman Mark
Publication year - 1980
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.1980.34-135
Subject(s) - preference , reinforcement , constant (computer programming) , multiplicative function , intertemporal choice , psychology , statistics , control (management) , mathematics , social psychology , econometrics , computer science , artificial intelligence , mathematical analysis , programming language
A concurrent‐chain procedure was used to study pigeons' choices between rewards differing in both amount and delay. The shorter delay terminated with a 2‐second access to grain whereas the longer delay terminated with a 6‐second access to grain. The ratio of the delays was constant within a given condition while their absolute values were varied. Over conditions, ratios of 6:1, 3:1, and 3:2 were studied. As the absolute values of the delays to reinforcement increased, preference for the longer‐delayed but larger reward decreased under both the 6:1 and 3:1 ratios, but increased under the 3:2 ratio. These results are inconsistent with choice models predicting no change in preference when the ratios of delays and amounts are held constant. In addition, the change in preference under the 3:1 ratio is inconsistent with a simple multiplicative interaction of the trade off between reinforcer amount and delay, and suggests that delay is a more potent determinant of choice than is amount. These results have implications for models that view choice between small immediate rewards and large but delayed rewards as underlying the behavior commonly called self control.