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Related Experiment Videos

More on concurrent interval-ratio schedules: a replication and review.

G M Heyman, R J Herrnstein

    Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
    |November 1, 1986
    PubMed
    Summary

    Pigeons on concurrent schedules did not maximize reinforcement rates. Instead, their response times matched reinforcement rates, even when this led to lower overall rewards, suggesting a consistent matching behavior.

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    Area of Science:

    • Behavioral psychology
    • Animal behavior studies

    Background:

    • Concurrent schedules of reinforcement are crucial for understanding choice behavior.
    • Previous studies suggest response costs may influence reinforcement maximization, but these costs are often unmeasured.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate if pigeons optimize reinforcement by balancing benefits against response costs.
    • To evaluate pigeon behavior on concurrent schedules with equal response costs.

    Main Methods:

    • Pigeons were tested using a concurrent variable time (VT) and variable ratio-time (VRT) schedule.
    • This procedure equalized response costs between schedule alternatives, isolating reinforcement rate effects.
    • Reinforcement delivery was independent of response, with a changeover key controlling schedule access.

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    Main Results:

    • Pigeons did not maximize their overall rate of reinforcement.
    • Pigeon's time allocation across schedules matched the relative rates of reinforcement.
    • This matching behavior persisted even when it resulted in the lowest possible overall reinforcement rate.

    Conclusions:

    • The findings challenge the assumption that subjects fail to maximize reinforcement due to unmeasured response costs.
    • Pigeons exhibit matching behavior on concurrent schedules, allocating time in proportion to reinforcement rates, irrespective of overall rate maximization.
    • The observed matching is not an artifact of the experimental procedure.