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An interresponse time analysis of variable-ratio punishment
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
|January 1, 1981
Summary
Variable-ratio punishment schedules, using electric shock, caused pigeons to exhibit response bursting, characterized by shorter unreinforced intervals. This bursting paradoxically led to increased response rates under certain conditions.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Psychology
- Animal Behavior
- Operant Conditioning
Background:
- Understanding the temporal patterns of reinforced responding is crucial in behavioral psychology.
- Punishment schedules are known to alter response rates, but their effect on response patterning requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the effects of variable-ratio punishment schedules on the temporal patterning of reinforced responding in pigeons.
- To investigate how interresponse times are affected by variable-ratio punishment.
Main Methods:
- Pigeons were initially trained on a variable-interval schedule of food reinforcement.
- A variable-ratio schedule of electric shock punishment was introduced and systematically increased in intensity.
- Interresponse time analysis was used to quantify changes in response patterns.
Main Results:
- Variable-ratio punishment led to an increased frequency of very short unreinforced interresponse times (response bursting).
- Response bursting was associated with instances of response rate facilitation.
- Following shock, interresponse times showed a decreasing mean length over the initial responses.
Conclusions:
- Variable-ratio punishment schedules significantly alter the temporal patterning of reinforced responding.
- Response bursting is a key phenomenon resulting from this type of punishment.
- The findings contribute to understanding the complex interplay between punishment and response patterning in operant conditioning.
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