SHAPING OF THREE-MAN TEAMS ON A MULTIPLE DRL-DRH SCHEDULE USING COLLECTIVE REINFORCEMENT

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Psychology
• Operant Conditioning
• Human Performance

Background:

• Understanding group dynamics in learning environments is crucial.
• Differential reinforcement schedules are used to shape behavior.
• Investigating the efficacy of collective versus individual reinforcement is an ongoing area of research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficiency of collective reinforcement versus individual reinforcement in a team setting.
• To analyze the impact of team-based differential reinforcement of low rates (DRL) and differential reinforcement of high rates (DRH) schedules on response differentiation.
• To assess the level of stimulus control (S(D)) achieved under collective conditioning.

Main Methods:

• Five three-man teams were conditioned using a multiple DRL-DRH schedule over five daily 3-hour sessions.
• Team conditioning was based on cumulative response rates, disregarding individual contributions.
• Two individually conditioned subjects (Ss) were used as a comparison group under a similar schedule.

Main Results:

• All teams showed some response rate differentiation, but it was slower and less stable than in individually conditioned Ss.
• Individual response rates within teams varied significantly and often interfered with team reinforcement.
• Individual team members exhibited less S(D) control compared to individually conditioned Ss.

Conclusions:

• Collective reinforcement is generally inefficient for shaping specific response rates compared to individual reinforcement procedures.
• Team conditioning under DRL-DRH schedules can lead to unstable performance due to individual response variability.
• Individual feedback appears more effective for achieving rapid and stable behavioral differentiation in operant conditioning paradigms.