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PREFERENCE FOR CONDITIONED REINFORCEMENT
Author(s) -
Williams Ben A.,
Dunn Roger
Publication year - 1991
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.1991.55-37
Subject(s) - reinforcement , stimulus (psychology) , psychology , stimulus control , schedule , cognitive psychology , audiology , social psychology , computer science , neuroscience , medicine , nicotine , operating system
Pigeons were presented with a concurrent‐chains schedule in which both choice alternatives led to the same terminal‐link stimulus, which was followed by food. Superimposed on the food‐reinforced presentations of the terminal‐link stimulus was a second schedule of presentations of the same stimulus that were followed by no food. The absolute number of these no‐food stimulus presentations was held constant while their relative frequency assigned to one or the other choice alternative was systematically varied. Preference for a given choice alternative tracked the relative frequency of these stimulus presentations, thus demonstrating that they served as reinforcers. These results resolve conflicts in the literature regarding the effect of conditioned reinforcement on choice.