Ashley C. Glover, Henry S. Roane, Heather J. Kadey, & Laura L. Grow.
Preference for reinforcers under progressive- and fixed-ratio schedules: A comparison of single and concurrent arrangements.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 2008,
41, 163-176.
Progressive-ratio (PR) schedules were used to identify the break point
(i.e., the last schedule value completed) for 2 reinforcers under single and
concurrent schedules. After the respective break points were established,
the same reinforcers were presented under concurrent fixed-ratio (FR)
schedules that were yoked to the break points obtained with the PR
schedules. Results suggested that the participants responded more for
the high-preference item than for the low-preference item, regardless
of the presentation arrangement (single or concurrent presentations).
This pattern of responding was maintained when the reinforcers were
presented under dissimilar FR schedules. The results suggest that
responding for differentially preferred stimuli may vary as a
function of differences in schedule requirements.
DESCRIPTORS: autism, concurrent schedules, fixed ratio, mental retardation, positive reinforcement, progressive ratio