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Maintaining responding during stimulus generalization testing in extinction.
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
|March 1, 1973
Summary
The long-adjusting-interval schedule enhances resistance to extinction and gradient stability in behavioral studies. This method offers advantages over conventional schedules for understanding learning and memory.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral psychology
- Learning and memory
- Operant conditioning
Background:
- Understanding how different reinforcement schedules impact learning and behavior is crucial in psychology.
- Previous research has explored various interval schedules, but the long-adjusting-interval schedule's effects require further elucidation.
- Generalization gradients and resistance to extinction are key metrics for assessing learning persistence and stimulus control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of a long-adjusting-interval schedule on resistance to extinction.
- To compare generalization gradients produced by a long-adjusting-interval schedule versus a conventional short-random-interval schedule.
- To assess the stability of gradient slopes under the long-adjusting-interval schedule.
Main Methods:
- Subjects were trained using a long-adjusting-interval schedule where a large reinforcer concluded each session.
- Session lengths varied, but typically concluded at 42.66 minutes.
- Generalization tests were conducted, comparing subjects trained with the long-adjusting-interval schedule to those trained with a short-random-interval schedule.
Main Results:
- The long-adjusting-interval schedule did not qualitatively alter generalization gradients compared to the conventional schedule.
- Subjects trained with the long-adjusting-interval schedule exhibited significantly greater resistance to extinction.
- More stable gradient slopes were observed within and across generalization tests for the long-adjusting-interval schedule group.
Conclusions:
- The long-adjusting-interval schedule offers distinct advantages in promoting behavioral persistence.
- This schedule enhances resistance to extinction and gradient stability without altering the fundamental nature of generalization gradients.
- The findings suggest the long-adjusting-interval schedule is a valuable tool for studying learning and behavioral resilience.