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OPTIMIZATION AND THE MATCHING LAW AS ACCOUNTS OF INSTRUMENTAL BEHAVIOR
Author(s) -
Baum William M.
Publication year - 1981
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.1981.36-387
Subject(s) - matching law , matching (statistics) , instrumental variable , variable (mathematics) , computer science , law , statistics , mathematics , machine learning , mathematical analysis , political science
The interaction between instrumental behavior and environment can be conveniently described at a molar level as a feedback system. Two different possible theories, the matching law and optimization, differ primarily in the reference criterion they suggest for the system. Both offer accounts of most of the known phenomena of performance on concurrent and single variable‐interval and variable‐ratio schedules. The matching law appears stronger in describing concurrent performances, whereas optimization appears stronger in describing performance on single schedules.