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Related Experiment Videos

Human choice on concurrent variable-interval variable-ratio schedules.

A Silberberg1, J R Thomas, N Berendzen

  • 1Department of Psychology, American University, Washington, D.C. 20016.

Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
|November 1, 1991
PubMed
Summary
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Human participants chose between heat lamps on concurrent schedules, with choices often maximizing reinforcement. Unlike nonhumans, humans did not consistently match response rates to reinforcement rates in this study.

Area of Science:

  • Behavioral psychology
  • Operant conditioning
  • Decision-making

Background:

  • Concurrent schedules of reinforcement are fundamental to understanding choice behavior.
  • Previous research in nonhuman animals has established matching laws for concurrent performances.
  • The application of these principles to human decision-making under complex schedules requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate human choice behavior under concurrent variable-interval (VI) and variable-ratio (VR) schedules of reinforcement.
  • To determine if human performance adheres to matching laws or demonstrates maximizing behavior.
  • To compare human concurrent performance with established nonhuman animal data.

Main Methods:

  • Five adult males were exposed to a choice procedure involving heat lamps as reinforcement in a controlled environment.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Participants operated a response panel to switch between VI and VR schedules, with reinforcement contingent on specific button presses.
  • A discrimination procedure was employed for some participants prior to the choice task to establish differential responding to schedules.

    • Main Results:

    • When prior discrimination training did not lead to higher rates on the ratio schedule, relative response rates matched relative reinforcement rates.
    • When prior discrimination training led to higher rates on the ratio schedule, relative rates deviated from matching, favoring reinforcement maximization.
    • In most conditions (8 of 11), human choice behavior appeared to be governed by reinforcement-rate maximizing principles.

    Conclusions:

    • Human choice behavior under concurrent schedules can deviate from strict matching, particularly when prior experience influences response biases.
    • Maximizing reinforcement appears to be a significant factor in human decision-making within these experimental conditions.
    • Human concurrent ratio-interval performances differ from nonhuman performances, notably in the absence of consistent matching based on local rate differences.