An Analysis of Interactions in a Multiple Schedule

Abstract

Multiple schedules of reinforcement may bring several different rates of responding under the control of several different exteroceptive stimuli (Ferster & Skinner, 1957). Occasionally, the rate of responding during the presentation of one of the stimuli may be altered by changing only the schedule of reinforcement associated with one of the other stimuli (e.g., Herrnstein Q9 Brady, 1958). A change in the rate of responding during the presentation of one stimulus, brought about by changing the schedule of reinforcement associated with a different stimulus, is called an interaction.Interactions may be studied by reinforcing an organism on a sequence of two-component multiple schedules. For example, suppose a multiple schedule in which both components are variable-interval reinforcement (mult VI VI) is changed to a multiple schedule in which the first component is variable-interval reinforcement and the second component is extinction (mult VI EXT). In the first component of these two multiple schedules, responding is continually reinforced on the same schedule, whereas in the second component the schedule is changed from reinforcement to extinction. When the second component is changed from reinforcement to extinction, the rate of responding in the first component (maintained on the VI schedule) may be unaffected, or it may increase or decrease. If the rate of responding in the first component increases or decreases when the other component becomes extinction, the components of the multiple schedule are said to interact.The sequence of schedules, mult VI VI, mult VI EXT, may reveal another interaction: the extinction curve in the second component ma-y itself differ from extinction curves obtained under different conditions.The present experiment systematically studies the possible interactions in a two-component multiple schedule. In the first series of procedures, the component schedules in the multiple schedule were either reinforcement on a variable-interval schedule (mean interval of 3 minutes) or extinction (VI series). In the second series, the component schedules were either reinforcement on a variable-ratio schedule (150 to 1) or extinction (VR series). METHOD ApparatusThe experimental chamber was a modified picnic icebox similar to that described by Ferster and Skinner (1957). A standard response key, 0.75 inch in diameter, was mounted on one wall of the chamber. The minimum effective force for operating the key was about 20 grams. The key could be transilluminated by red, green, orange, or blue lamps fixed behind it. Beneath the key was a 2-inch-square opening through which the pigeon was occasionally given access to grain for 3 seconds. The chamber was illuminated by two 6-watt lamps. White noise masked most extraneous sounds.'I wish to thank Dr. R. J. Herrnstein for assistance during the research and for criticism of the manuscript. The present data are Experiment III in a dissertation submitted to the Department of Psychology, Harvard University, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degr...

Effects of partial vs consistent reward in noncontingent pairings of stimuli with reward: A noncontingently produced positive contrast effect

“…: but rather was facilitated to S2::j:. This phenomenon is similar to positive contrast effects obtained in the Skinner box when an organism receives two schedules of reward correlated with two stimuli during instrumental training (e.g., Reynolds, 1961). However, in the typical behavioral contrast study, the schedules of reward are correlated with the stimuli during instrumental training, while here the schedules of reward were correlated with the stimuli prior to instrumental training.…”

“…However, in the typical behavioral contrast study, the schedules of reward are correlated with the stimuli during instrumental training, while here the schedules of reward were correlated with the stimuli prior to instrumental training. Also, in the typical behavioral contrast study, negative contrast effects are obtained in addition to positive contrast effects (e.g., Reynolds, 1961). Thus, whether similar processes are operating here and in the typical behavioral contrast study is not clear.…”

Sequential effects in fixed-ratio postreinf orcement pause duration

“…Interactions between components of multiple schedules have been noted by Reynolds (1961). However, in the present study, the immediate sequence appears of great importance.…”

Positive behavioral contrast: Development within sessions

“…It consists of an increase in the rate of reinforced responding in the presence of the positive stimulus (8+) when responding is extinguished in the presence of the second stimulus (S-) (Reynolds, 1961a(Reynolds, , 1961b. The present paper probes the relationship between the rate of responding in extinction and the magnitude of behavioral contrast by examining the correlation between them during the early stages of the formation of a discrimination.…”