Chapter 9a Flashcards
choice
the distribution of operant behavior among alternative sources of reinforcement (options)
preference
when several options are available and one alternative is selected more frequently than others
concurrent schedules of reinforcement
two or more simple schedules are simultaneously available on different response keys; each key is programmed with a separate schedule of reinforcement and the organism is free to distribute behavior between the alternative schedules
changeover response
On a concurrent schedule, a changeover is a response that an organism emits when it switches from one alternative to another
changeover delay
the control procedure used to stop rapid switching between alternatives
two-key procedure
In a two-key procedure, a researcher who is interested in behavioral choice should first arrange two or more concurrently available schedules of reinforcement. Then they should program interval schedules on each alternative. Next, they should use variable, rather than fixed interval schedules. Finally, they would require a changeover delay in order to stop frequent alternation between or among schedules.
provides a model for social interaction
matching (relaxation)
the matching between relative rate of reinforcement and relative rate of response
results when the proportional rate of reinforcement exactly matches the proportional rate of response
relative rate of response
the dependent variable in choice experiments
relative rate of reinforcement
the independent variable in choice experiments
quantitative law of effect
equation that describes the absolute rate of response on a single schedule of reinforcement
extraneous sources of reinforcement
include any unknown contingencies that support the behavior of the organism
maximization
when animals compare their behavioral distributions with overall outcomes and stabilize on a response distribution that maximizes the overall rate of reinforcement
melioration
animals are sensitive to fluctuations in the momentary rates of reinforcement rather than to long-term changes in overall rates of reinforcement
preference for choice
Catania arranged for pigeons to peck an initial key to allow them to choose between two keys (choice condition) or to peck another initial key to allow them to respond on a single key (no-choice condition). The reinforcers (food) and the rates of reinforcement were identical for the choice and no-choice conditions, but the birds preferred the alternative with two keys
