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Timing in free-operant and discrete-trial avoidance.

P N Hineline, R J Herrnstein

Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior

|March 1, 1970

Summary

A new discrete-trial avoidance procedure was tested against Sidman

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Area of Science:

Behavioral psychology
Animal behavior

Background:

Two main theories explain responding in Sidman's free-operant avoidance procedure: two-factor theory (reinforcement by conditioned aversive stimulus removal) and shock-frequency reduction theory.
Two-factor theory posits temporal conditioned aversive stimuli explain the timing observed in Sidman's procedure.

Purpose of the Study:

To differentiate between two-factor theory and shock-frequency reduction theory.
To investigate the role of conditioned aversive stimuli and shock-frequency reduction in avoidance behavior and timing.

Main Methods:

A novel "discrete-trial" avoidance procedure was developed to isolate variables.
This procedure eliminated reinforcement for timing while preserving conditions for temporal conditioned aversive stimuli.
Compared timing and avoidance in the new procedure versus Sidman's free-operant procedure.

Main Results:

Neither theory was fully supported by the results.
Timing was observed in both procedures, but differed in degree and kind.
Variations in timing precision did not correlate with successful avoidance in either procedure.

Conclusions:

The findings challenge existing theories of avoidance behavior and timing.
Further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms underlying avoidance responding and temporal control.

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