On the magnitude of reinforcement and fixed-ratio behavior

Meunier, Gary F.; Starratt, Christopher

doi:10.3758/bf03336893

Cited by 13 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 13 publications

(5 reference statements)

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“…Both phases usually showed an inverse relation between PRPs and magnitude of reinforcement under VR schedules, when magnitude was defined as timed access to grain. These results replicate and extend those obtained with FR schedules of grain (Powell, 1969), water (Inman & Cheney, 1974), and milk (Meunier & Starratt, 1979) deliveries. Other research, however, has found a direct relation between reinforcer magnitude and PRPs under FR and VR schedules when magnitude was defined as percentage of milk concentration (Lowe et al, 1974;Priddle-Higson et al, 1976).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

“…Their results showed a direct relation between reinforcer magnitude (i.e., percentage of milk concentration) and PRP duration. This finding is contrary to Powell's (1969) results with FR schedules and pigeons but consistent with the results of other research with rats responding under FR schedules of milk delivery (e.g., Lowe et al, 1974; but see Meunier & Starratt, 1979). Priddle-Higson et al (1976) also reported that both the absolute PRP duration and differences in PRPs educed by unequal concentrations of milk increased with ratio size.…”

supporting

confidence: 88%

“…Most researchers refer to this as a "postreinforcement pause," although some prefer the term "preratio pause" (Griffiths & Thompson, 1973). Studies have shown that the duration of the postreinforcement pause (PRP) is controlled by several factors, among them ratio size (Felton & Lyon, 1966;Ferster & Skinner, 1957) and reinforcer magnitude (Inman & Cheney, 1974;Lowe, Davey, & Harzem, 1974;Meunier & Starratt, 1979;Powell, 1969). In an effort to investigate the interaction of these two variables, Powell (1969) examined the effects of two durations of access to grain under a range of FR values.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Determinants of Pausing Under Variable‐ratio Schedules: Reinforcer Magnitude, Ratio Size, and Schedule Configuration

Blakely

Schlinger

1988

J Exper Analysis Behavior

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Pigeons pecked a key under two-component multiple variable-ratio schedules that offered 8-s or 2-s access to grain. Phase 1 assessed the effects of differences in reinforcer magnitude on postreinforcement pausing, as a function of ratio size. In Phase 2, postreinforcement pausing and the first five interresponse times in each ratio were measured as a function of differences in reinforcer magnitude under equal variable-ratio schedules consisting of different configurations of individual ratios. Rates were also calculated exclusive of postreinforcement pause times in both phases. The results from Phase 1 showed that as ratio size increased, the differences in pausing educed by unequal reinforcer magnitudes also increased. The results of Phase 2 showed that the effects of reinforcer magnitude on pausing and IRT durations were a function of schedule configuration. Under one configuration, in which the smallest ratio was a fixed-ratio 1, pauses were unaffected by magnitude but the first five interresponse times were affected. Under the other configuration, in which the smallest ratio was a fixed-ratio 7, pauses were affected by reinforcer magnitude but the first five interresponse times were not. The effect of each configuration seemed to be determined by the value of the smallest individual ratio. Rates calculated exclusive of postreinforcement pause times were, in general, directly related to reinforcer magnitude, and the relation was shown to be a function of schedule configuration.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

supporting

confidence: 88%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Determinants of Pausing Under Variable‐ratio Schedules: Reinforcer Magnitude, Ratio Size, and Schedule Configuration

Blakely

Schlinger

1988

J Exper Analysis Behavior

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“…Powell, using key‐light color to signal the access time in effect, alternated these both across and within sessions. Under steady‐state conditions with single FR schedules and rats, Meunier and Starratt () found that PRP duration was inversely related to the size of the reinforcer (concentration of sucrose solutions). Other studies have found no effects of magnitude of reinforcement on PRP.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of reinforcer magnitude in the preceding and upcoming ratios on between‐ratio pausing in multiple, mixed, and single fixed‐ratio schedules

Young

Foster

Bizo

2017

J Exper Analysis Behavior

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Hens responded under multiple fixed-ratio schedules with equal response requirements and either a 1-s or a 6-s reinforcer. Upcoming reinforcer size was indicated by key color. Components were presented in a quasirandom series so that all four component transitions occurred. Postreinforcement pauses were affected by the upcoming and preceding reinforcer size, with longer pauses after large reinforcers followed by small reinforcers than when followed by large ones, and longer pauses after small reinforcers that were followed by small reinforcers rather than large ones. Pauses increased with fixed-ratio size and the effects of reinforcer size were larger the larger the ratio. When reinforcer size was not signaled-mixed fixed-ratio schedules-pauses were shorter after small than after large reinforcers. Signalling the upcoming reinforcer attenuated the effect of the previous reinforcer size on pause duration when small was followed by small and when either small or large by large, but enhanced the effect when large was followed by small. There was no effect of reinforcer size on pause duration when single fixed-ratio schedules were arranged. The effects of reinforcer size on pauses depends on the size and range of the fixed ratios as well as the exact procedures used in the study.

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“…Specifically, Lowe, Davey, and Harzem (1974) showed that when sucrose concentration was varied within a session, PRPs on a FR schedule increased as sucrose concentration increased. In contrast, when magnitude was varied between conditions, PRP duration either decreased with reinforcer magnitude (Meunier & Starratt, 1979) or did not vary (Harzem, Lowe, & Davey, 1975). Similar inconsistencies appeared with respect to the effect of magnitude on response rates.…”

Section: Reinforcements Postreinforcement Pause(s)mentioning

confidence: 66%

Postreinforcement Pause Duration Varies Within a Session and With a Variable Response Requirement but Not as a Function of Prior Revolutions

Belke

2011

Psychol Rec

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On the magnitude of reinforcement and fixed-ratio behavior

Cited by 13 publications

References 13 publications

Determinants of Pausing Under Variable‐ratio Schedules: Reinforcer Magnitude, Ratio Size, and Schedule Configuration

Determinants of Pausing Under Variable‐ratio Schedules: Reinforcer Magnitude, Ratio Size, and Schedule Configuration

The effects of reinforcer magnitude in the preceding and upcoming ratios on between‐ratio pausing in multiple, mixed, and single fixed‐ratio schedules

Postreinforcement Pause Duration Varies Within a Session and With a Variable Response Requirement but Not as a Function of Prior Revolutions

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