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RESISTANCE TO CHANGE PRODUCED BY ACCESS TO FIXED‐DELAY VERSUS VARIABLE‐DELAY TERMINAL LINKS
Author(s) -
Mellon Robert C.,
Shull Richard L.
Publication year - 1986
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.1986.46-79
Subject(s) - terminal (telecommunication) , variable (mathematics) , schedule , reinforcement , computer science , mathematics , psychology , computer network , social psychology , mathematical analysis , operating system
Pigeons' responding was reinforced on a multiple schedule consisting of two two‐link chain schedules presented in regular alternation. Responding in initial links (always variable‐interval 60‐s) produced a key‐color change and access to a terminal link. The terminal link for one chain provided food after a fixed delay (fixed‐interval or fixed‐time); the terminal link for the other provided food after a variable delay (variable‐interval or variable‐time). The average duration of the terminal‐link schedules was varied across conditions, but in every condition the arithmetic mean of the variable‐delay terminal‐link schedule was equal to the duration of the fixed delay. Response rates were higher in the initial links of the chains with the variable‐delay terminal links. Response‐decreasing operations (satiation, extinction) were used after performances reached asymptote. Response rates maintained by access to variable‐delay terminal links tended to be more resistant to change than were rates maintained by access to fixed‐delay terminal links. These results are consistent with the preference for variable‐ over fixed‐interval terminal links observed with concurrent‐chains schedules, suggesting (1) that immediacy of reinforcement influences the conditioned reinforcing potency of access to a terminal link and (2) that choice in concurrent chains and resistance of responding to change may be manifestations of the same effect of reinforcement.