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Related Concept Videos

Generalization, Discrimination, and Extinction01:24

Generalization, Discrimination, and Extinction

Generalization, discrimination, and extinction are key concepts in operant conditioning that influence how behaviors are learned and maintained.
Generalization occurs when a behavior reinforced in one context is performed in similar situations. For instance, a student who studies diligently for calculus and receives excellent grades might apply the same study habits to psychology and history, expecting similar results. Generalization shows how learning in one setting can influence behavior in...
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Measures of variability are statistical metrics that reveal the dispersion pattern within a dataset. They are pivotal in biostatistics, providing insights into the heterogeneity within health and biological data. Variability signifies the degree to which data points diverge from one another, helping researchers understand the potential range of values and associated uncertainty within the data.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 7, 2026

Operant Procedures for Assessing Behavioral Flexibility in Rats
08:30

Operant Procedures for Assessing Behavioral Flexibility in Rats

Published on: February 15, 2015

History effects on induced and operant variability.

Alessandra da Silva Souza1, Josele Abreu-Rodrigues, Ana Amélia Baumann

  • 1Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil. a.souza@psychologie.uzh.ch

Learning & Behavior
|November 5, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Past reinforcement conditions significantly impact learning and behavior variability. A history of no reinforcement hinders learning, while prior reinforcement for variation or repetition alters current response patterns.

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Area of Science:

  • Behavioral psychology
  • Cognitive science
  • Human-computer interaction

Background:

  • Reinforcement history is crucial in shaping operant behavior.
  • Understanding how prior reinforcement influences response variability is key to behavioral analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of reinforcement history on induced and operant variability in typing sequences.
  • To examine how transitions between different reinforcement conditions alter behavioral variability.

Main Methods:

  • Two experiments used a reverse between-groups design with college students typing three-digit sequences.
  • Variability was induced (no reinforcement, variation-independent reinforcement) or reinforced (variation-dependent, repetition-dependent).
  • Contingencies were transitioned between reinforcement and no reinforcement, or between reinforcement types.

Main Results:

  • A history of no reinforcement impaired operant variability learning.
  • Reinforcement history influenced induced variability: higher after variation, lower after repetition.
  • Repetition was more susceptible to disruption by non-contingent reinforcement than variation.
  • Response variability and stability depended on both past and present reinforcement conditions.

Conclusions:

  • Reinforcement history plays a significant role in modulating both induced and operant levels of response variability.
  • Behavioral patterns are dynamic and adapt based on the interplay of past and current environmental contingencies.