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LEVELS OF AGGREGATION: RELATIVE TIME ALLOCATION IN CONCURRENT‐SCHEDULE PERFORMANCE
Author(s) -
Real Pamela G.,
Dreyfus Leon R.
Publication year - 1985
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.1985.43-97
Subject(s) - aggregate (composite) , schedule , time allocation , interval (graph theory) , context (archaeology) , statistics , variable (mathematics) , computer science , econometrics , mathematics , geography , economics , combinatorics , mathematical analysis , materials science , management , archaeology , composite material , operating system
The proportion of time allocated to one component of a concurrent variable‐interval variable‐interval schedule was computed for groups of interchangeover times (aggregates) within several intact time series. Variability in obtained proportions decreased as the number of interchangeover times within each aggregate increased; however, modal proportions failed to correspond to overall relative time allocation computed over the course of an entire experimental session, even at the largest aggregate size. The aggregated time series showed periodicities at small aggregate sizes and general trends in local preference at larger aggregate sizes. It is suggested that overall relative time allocation represents a molar extreme in the aggregation of behavior that may not accurately reflect central tendency in the allocation of time to available alternatives within the context of ongoing behavior.