The matching law and effects of reinforcer rate and magnitude on choice in transition.

Full Abstract

Four pigeons responded in a concurrent-schedule procedure in which reinforcer rates and magnitudes changed unpredictably across sessions according to independent random series. Programmed relative reinforcement rates and magnitudes were always either 2:1 or 1:2. Pigeons' response allocation tended to stabilize within sessions and multiple regression analyses showed that it was determined by rates and magnitudes from the current session. Sensitivity coefficients were positive and statistically significant for current-session reinforcement and magnitude ratios. Although there were individual differences in sensitivity to rate and magnitude, their interaction was not significant across subjects. Rate and magnitude both controlled responding in single sessions and individual interreinforcer intervals. Analyses of responding within sessions showed that preference was more extreme when the richer rate and larger magnitude were associated with the same alternative than when they were associated with different alternatives. Overall, results support the concatenated generalized matching law's assumptions of additivity and independence as applied to choice in transition.

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Author information

Author/s: Kyonka, Elizabeth G E (EG);

Affiliation: University of Canterbury, Department of Psychology, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand. elizabeth.kyonka(-atsign-)pg.canterbury.ac.nz

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Behavioural processes (Behav Processes), published in Netherlands. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Jun; vol 78 (issue 2) : pp 210-6

Dates: Created 2008/04/28; Completed 2008/07/25;

PMID: 18243576, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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