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Related Experiment Videos

Contrast effects in multiple fixed-interval reinforcement schedules.

N K Innis

    Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
    |March 1, 1978
    PubMed
    Summary
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    Pigeons showed negative contrast effects in longer intervals and positive contrast in shorter intervals, demonstrating how reinforcement history influences behavior under complex schedules. This highlights the impact of prior experience on operant conditioning.

    Area of Science:

    • Behavioral Psychology
    • Operant Conditioning
    • Animal Behavior

    Background:

    • Contrast effects in operant conditioning describe how the value of a reinforcer influences responding in a given schedule component.
    • Previous research indicates that changes in reinforcement magnitude can lead to both positive and negative contrast effects.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the development of local contrast effects in pigeons under a multiple fixed-interval schedule.
    • To examine how prior training on different fixed-interval schedules influences subsequent responding.
    • To differentiate between positive and negative local contrast effects in relation to interval length.

    Main Methods:

    • Pigeons were trained on either a multiple fixed-interval (FI) 1-min FI 1-min schedule or a multiple FI 3-min FI 3-min schedule.

    Related Experiment Videos

  • Following training, pigeons were exposed to a multiple FI 1-min FI 3-min schedule of reinforcement.
  • Response rates and postreinforcement pauses were measured during specific intervals within each component.

    • Main Results:

    • Large negative local contrast effects were observed in the initial 3-minute interval for all birds, characterized by depressed response rates and lengthened postreinforcement pauses.
    • Positive local contrast effects were seen in the initial 1-minute intervals for most birds, with shorter pauses and slightly elevated response rates.
    • Overall positive contrast effects were transient, while negative contrast effects, when present, emerged after numerous sessions.

    Conclusions:

    • The findings demonstrate that pigeons exhibit significant local contrast effects, with the nature of the effect (positive or negative) depending on the interval length.
    • Reinforcement history plays a crucial role in shaping behavioral responses to changes in reinforcement schedules.
    • This study contributes to understanding the temporal dynamics of contrast effects in complex operant conditioning paradigms.