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The effect of negative stimulus presentations on observing-response rates
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
|November 1, 1986
Summary
The absence of a reinforcement signal (S-) does not reinforce observing responses in pigeons. Controlling for S- presentation effects revealed it cannot strengthen observing behaviors, supporting specific learning theories.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral psychology
- Animal cognition
Background:
- Observing responses are crucial for learning.
- The role of the absence of reinforcement signal (S-) in reinforcing observing responses is debated.
- Previous studies yielded conflicting results regarding S- effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether the absence of reinforcement signal (S-) can reinforce observing responses.
- To clarify the role of S- presentation effects in prior experiments.
- To test predictions of different theories of observing behavior.
Main Methods:
- Utilized pigeons and operant conditioning procedures.
- Experiment 1: Assessed S- presentation effects on observing responses reinforced by a positive signal (S+).
- Experiment 2: Analyzed response bursts following S- offsets.
- Experiment 3: Compared S- dependent vs. independent observing rates with constant S- presence.
Main Results:
- S- presentations, even non-contingent, increased observing response rates.
- Observed response bursts immediately after S- offsets.
- When S- presence was constant, dependent observing rates were lower than independent rates.
Conclusions:
- The absence of reinforcement signal (S-) is incapable of reinforcing observing responses.
- Failure to control for S- presentation artifacts likely caused previous mixed results.
- Findings support theories positing S- as non-reinforcing for observing.
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