On the measurement of time allocation on multiple variable-interval schedules.

Area of Science:

• Behavioral psychology
• Animal behavior studies
• Operant conditioning research

Background:

• Pigeons were trained using a modified multiple-schedule procedure.
• This involved a three-key chamber with color-coded component schedules.
• A limited-access design allowed measurement of time allocation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how pigeons allocate their time and respond under different component reinforcer rates in a multiple-schedule procedure.
• To determine if local response rates are affected by changes in reinforcer rates.
• To compare findings with concurrent-schedule performance models.

Main Methods:

• Six pigeons were trained on a modified multiple-schedule procedure with alternating components.
• Component reinforcer rates were systematically varied across eight experimental conditions.
• Time spent in different key-access states and response rates were recorded.

Main Results:

• Both component response rate and time allocation increased with relative component reinforcer rate.
• These increasing functions were not significantly different from each other.
• Local response rates remained unaffected by changes in component reinforcer rates.

Conclusions:

• Local response rates in multiple schedules are independent of reinforcer rate variations.
• Behavioral allocation, not local response rate, is the primary adjustment to changing reinforcer rates.
• Models for multiple and concurrent schedules may benefit from focusing on time allocation at a consistent tempo.