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EFFECTS OF FIXED AND VARIABLE RATIOS ON HUMAN BEHAVIORAL VARIABILITY
Author(s) -
Tatham Thomas A.,
Wanchisen Barbara A.,
Hineline Philip N.
Publication year - 1993
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.1993.59-349
Subject(s) - reinforcement , variable (mathematics) , schedule , statistics , similarity (geometry) , psychology , variables , mathematics , computer science , artificial intelligence , social psychology , mathematical analysis , image (mathematics) , operating system
The effect that ratio schedules of reinforcement had upon variability of responding was investigated in college students. Subjects were paid $0.02 contingent upon completion of eight presses, distributed in any combination across two push buttons; 256 different sequences were possible. Sequence emission was reinforced according to fixed‐ and variable‐ratio schedules. Ratio requirements of 1, 2, 4 and 8 were presented in alternate components of a multiple schedule. The variability engendered by variable‐ratio schedules was also compared to that engendered by fixed ratios. Variability increased with ratio size, irrespective of whether the schedule requirement was fixed or variable. The data demonstrate the similarity between the determinants of human and nonhuman variability, and they illustrate the role of ratio size in determining variability in operant behavior.