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Conjoint schedules of timeout deletion in pigeons
1University of Minnesota.
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
|September 1, 1992
Summary
Pigeons learned to favor a key that not only provided food but also canceled unwanted "timeout" periods. This demonstrates how behavior can be shaped by combining positive reinforcement with avoidance of negative consequences.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral psychology
- Animal behavior studies
- Operant conditioning
Background:
- Behavior is often controlled by reinforcement schedules.
- Timeout periods can disrupt ongoing reinforcement.
- Pigeons are frequently used subjects in behavioral experiments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if pigeons' behavior could be controlled by a conjoint schedule linking reinforcement with timeout avoidance.
- To examine how pigeons respond when a less preferred key cancels timeouts.
- To assess sensitivity to conjoint contingencies under varying time-in:timeout ratios.
Main Methods:
- Pigeons were trained on a random-interval schedule with signaled timeouts.
- A conjoint schedule was implemented where responses on one key produced food and canceled timeouts.
- Response rates were analyzed before and after reversing the conjoint contingency.
Main Results:
- Three out of four pigeons showed increased responding on the conjoint key, indicating sensitivity to the combined consequences.
- Sensitivity was observed under different time-in:timeout ratios (2:1 and 1:5).
- One pigeon showed weak evidence of control by the conjoint schedule despite extensive training.
Conclusions:
- Conjoint schedules can effectively bring behavior under the control of combined positive reinforcement and timeout avoidance.
- Results align with previous findings on timeout avoidance and positive reinforcement.
- Individual differences in sensitivity to conjoint contingencies were noted in pigeons.