Grace, R. C., & Nevin, J. A. (1997).
On the relation between preference and resistance to change.
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior,
67, 43-65.
Nevin (1979) noted that preference in concurrent chains and
resistance to change in multiple schedules were correlated, in
that both measures were affected similarly by variations in
parameters of reinforcement such as rate, immediacy, and
magnitude. To investigate the relationship between preference and
resistance to change directly, we used a within-session procedure
that arranged concurrent chains in one half of the session and a
multiple schedule in the other half. The same variable-interval
schedules served as terminal links in concurrent chains and as
the components of the multiple schedule, and were signaled by the
same stimuli. After performances had stabilized, responding in
the multiple schedule was disrupted by delivering
response-independent reinforcement during the blackout periods
between components. Both preference in concurrent chains and
relative resistance to change of multiple-schedule responding
were well described as power functions of relative reinforcement
rate, as predicted by current quantitative models (Grace, 1994;
Nevin, 1992b). In addition, unsystematic variation in preference
and resistance to change was positively correlated, which
suggests that preference and resistance to change are independent
measures of a single construct. That construct could be described
as the learning that occurs regarding the prevailing conditions
of reinforcement in a distinctive stimulus situation.
Key words: resistance to change, multiple schedules, choice,
concurrent chains, response strength, key peck, pigeons