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Related Concept Videos

Reinforcement Schedules01:24

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Positive reinforcement is a powerful method for teaching new behaviors to both animals and humans. B.F. Skinner demonstrated this with his experiments using rats in a Skinner box. When a rat pressed a lever, it received a food pellet. This immediate reward encouraged the rat to repeat the behavior. This method, where a reward follows every instance of the behavior, is known as continuous reinforcement. It is highly effective for establishing new behaviors quickly.
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The most basic experimental design involves two groups: the experimental group and the control group. The two groups are designed to be the same except for one difference— experimental manipulation. The experimental group gets the experimental manipulation—that is, the treatment or variable being tested—and the control group does not. Since experimental manipulation is the only difference between the experimental and control groups, we can be sure that any differences between...
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Three Laboratory Procedures for Assessing Different Manifestations of Impulsivity in Rats
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Within-session changes in responding during variable interval schedules.

F K McSweeney1, J N Weatherly, S Swindell

  • 1Department of Psychology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4820, USA.

Behavioural Processes
|June 5, 2014
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Behavioral responses in rats and pigeons varied within sessions under variable interval schedules. These patterns changed with reinforcement rates, suggesting caution when using these schedules as baselines.

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Area of Science:

  • Behavioral science
  • Animal behavior
  • Operant conditioning

Background:

  • Variable interval (VI) schedules are commonly used to establish stable response rates in animal research.
  • Previous research has primarily focused on average response rates, often overlooking within-session response patterns.
  • Understanding detailed response dynamics is crucial for accurate interpretation of experimental findings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the within-session patterns of responding in rats and pigeons under variable interval schedules.
  • To examine how programmed rates of reinforcement influence these within-session response patterns.
  • To assess the implications of observed patterns for the use of VI schedules as experimental baselines.

Main Methods:

  • Four rats and four pigeons were trained to respond for food reinforcement.
  • Subjects were exposed to variable interval schedules with programmed reinforcement rates from 15 to 480 reinforcers per hour.
  • Within-session response patterns were systematically recorded and analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Response rates exhibited varied patterns within sessions, including increases, decreases, or initial increases followed by decreases.
  • These within-session patterns were significantly influenced by the programmed rate of reinforcement and the species (rat or pigeon).
  • Systematic pauses in responding were observed, potentially explaining decreased average rates at high reinforcement levels.

Conclusions:

  • Within-session response variability under variable interval schedules is more complex than previously assumed.
  • The findings extend the generality of within-session changes to another schedule type, highlighting their widespread nature.
  • Variable interval schedules should be used with caution as baselines for other variables (e.g., drugs) due to these dynamic patterns.