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

Abstract

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.

Reinforcer quality matters: A test of the Mathematical Principles of Reinforcement with domestic hens (Gallus gallus domesticus)

“…Additionally, this experiment demonstrated the generality of MPR's predictions to another species—hens. The general increase in PRPs with increases shown in Figure is consistent with a report by Young, Foster and Bizo () showing PRPs increasing with increases in FR ratio value, although in their experiment the magnitude of the impending ratio rather than the immediately preceding ratio, and whether the size of the ratio was signaled or not, determined the magnitude of the PRP. The general increase in PRPs with increases in the ratio is also consistent with the change in PRPs reported by Skjoldager, Pierre, and Mittleman () showing PRPs increasing in a monotonic fashion with the value of the PR.…”

Assessing functions of stimuli associated with rich‐to‐lean transitions using a choice procedure

“…The data during the single‐key phases and no‐choice components provide yet another demonstration of the reliability and generality of the rich‐to‐lean transition phenomenon (Brewer, Johnson, Stein, Schlund, & Williams, ; Harris et al, ; Perone & Courtney, ; Wade‐Galuska et al, ; Williams et al, ; Young, Foster, & Bizo, ). During the multiple schedule, pausing was under joint control of the past reinforcer magnitude and the stimuli associated with the upcoming reinforcer magnitude, and, as with the Retzlaff et al () study, this effect occurred when a unique, multiple‐schedule stimulus signaled each transition type.…”

An Evidence-Based Logic for the Use of Positive Reinforcement: Responses to Typical Criticisms

“…Furthermore, the nature of such post-reinforcement pauses is wellresearched. We know that variable ratio (i.e., randomly intermittent based on performance) schedules of reinforcement are associated with little to no post-reinforcement pauses while fixed ratio and interval schedules are far more likely to produce pauses (Young et al, 2017). Again, context matters when considering relationships between complex learning environments and human behavior.…”