Delay of reinforcement: Extended training and multiple shifts

Abstract

Several lines of work involving reinforcement manipulations have produced early performance differences between differentially reinforced subjects. Late in training, these differences have disappeared. In the present study, similar effects were found using 10-and 3D-sec delays of reinforcement. Delay shifts produced an NCE but no PCE. It is proposed that the late acquisition effects have not been considered in most learning models.

The effects of shifts in delay of liquid sucrose reward in thirsty rats

“…These findings are in agreement with a number of studies using food reward. No PCE was found based on the following shifts in delay of food reward: from 15 sec to 0 sec (Shanab & Biller, 1972;Shanab & McCuistion, 1970), from 20 to 0 sec (Cox & Black, 1975), and from 30 to 10 sec (McCain, Boodee, & Lobb, 1977;McCain, Lobb, Almand, & Leek, 1976;Shanab & Cavallaro, 1973). All the preceding studies utilized the runway.…”

Extended training: Delay of reward

“…Late in training these differences have disappeared. These studies are cited in more detail elsewhere (McCain, Lobb, Almand, & Leck, 1976). The present study was designed to replicate and extend the earlier delay study since it was a single study.…”

Delay of reinforcement and delay shifts in dyadic communication

“…Recent developments in neo-Hullian theory (Capaldi, in press;McHose & Moore, 1976) maintain the interest in "asymptotic" performance but also address the question of comparison of preasymptotic with asymptotic shifts. Other recent developments make repeated shifts in reinforcement conditions a question of lively interest (compare Gracely & Church, 1976;Logan, 1968;McCain, Lobb, Almand, & Leck, 1976). Our dyadic communication analog of escape conditioning requires the simple design employed here because the subjects' inability to maintain sustained conversations limits the number of trials available for experimental comparison or, indeed, to guarantee asymptotic preshift performance within a set of massed trials.…”