Effects of qualitative reinforcement schedule transitions

Document Type

Thesis

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Psychology

Degree

M.S. Applied Behavior Analysis

Date Completed

2017

First Committee Member

Bourret, Jason

Second Committee Member

Dickson, Chata

Third Committee Member

Pinkston, Jonathan

Abstract

"Previous research has examined the effects of schedule transitions involving differing ratio requirements, magnitudes, and delays to reinforcement on post-reinforcement pausing in both human and non-human subjects. Generally speaking, signaled transitions from favorable to less favorable contingencies result in longer average pausing. The present study examined the effects of transitions between fixed-ratio schedules of qualitatively different reinforcers on pausing, inter-response time, and initial link selection. First, we assessed the reinforcing efficacy of several edible stimuli using single- and paired-stimulus preference assessments. We selected high, moderate, and low quality stimuli from these arrays. Second, we arranged these items to assess the effects of transitions (rich to lean; lean to rich) in a three-component multiple schedule. Lastly, we assessed the relative reinforcing efficacy of these arrangements using concurrent chained multiple schedules. We found longer pauses for one participant in the rich to lean condition. For this participant, the rich to lean transition produced longer inter-response times in the middle schedule component."

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