The value hypothesis and acquisition of preference in concurrent chains.

Area of Science:

• Behavioral psychology
• Animal cognition
• Operant conditioning

Background:

• Concurrent chains procedures are used to study choice behavior.
• Understanding how animals learn preferences between options is crucial for behavioral economics and psychology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the acquisition of initial- and terminal-link responding in concurrent chains.
• To determine how changes in terminal-link schedules and initial-link assignments affect preference acquisition.
• To provide empirical support for the role of terminal-link stimulus-reinforcer values in shaping initial-link preference.

Main Methods:

• Two experiments using pigeons in concurrent chains procedures.
• Experiment 1: Varied terminal-link schedules (fixed interval 10s and 20s) and stimulus-reinforcer contingencies.
• Experiment 2: Compared standard terminal-link schedule changes versus initial-link key assignment changes while preserving terminal-link stimulus-reinforcer relations.

Main Results:

• Acquisition of temporal control in terminal links was faster than initial-link preference acquisition when terminal-link schedules changed.
• Preference acquisition was faster when initial-link key assignments changed, preserving terminal-link stimulus-reinforcer relations.
• Data indicate that initial-link preference is influenced by the value of terminal-link stimuli.

Conclusions:

• The value of terminal-link stimuli, established through their associated reinforcers, plays a critical role in the rapid acquisition of preference in initial links.
• Findings support the theoretical framework that initial-link choices are guided by the anticipated outcomes signaled by stimuli.
• This research contributes novel acquisition data to the understanding of choice and preference formation in concurrent-schedule paradigms.