Ono, K., & Iwabuchi, K. (1997).
Effects of histories of differential reinforcement of response rate on variable-interval responding.
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior,
67, 311-322.
Three pigeons were exposed first to multiple
differential-reinforcement-of-high-rate and
differential-reinforcement-of-low-rate schedules that were
correlated with green and red keys, respectively, and then were
shifted to a variable-interval schedule arranged on a white key.
In subsequent test sessions, the variable-interval schedule
continued to operate, but green and red keys replaced the white
key in alternate sessions. In Part 1 of the experiment, the
variable-interval schedule correlated with the white key was
introduced immediately after the multiple-schedule condition, and
the test condition began 15 days later. This sequence was
repeated twice, with a reversal of the correlation of the key
colors with the components of the multiple schedule at the start
of each new cycle. Part 2 added a 6-month break between the
multiple-schedule history and the white-key variable-interval
schedule followed by test sessions. The procedure was then
repeated with a reversal of the correlation between key colors
and multiple-schedule components. In the test sessions of Part 1,
all pigeons consistently responded faster in the presence of the
key color most recently correlated with the
differential-reinforcement-of-high-rate contingency than during
the color most recently correlated with the
differential-reinforcement-of-low-rate contingency. Similar but
smaller effects were observed in Part 2. The effects of the
reversals in these two parts of the experiment showed that only
the most recent contingency exerted an influence on subsequent
responding. The data suggest that this effect of the most recent
history continues to operate on behavior under current
contingencies even after a long lapse of time.
Key words: schedule history, stimulus control, multiple
schedules, differential-reinforcement-of-high-rate schedules,
differential-reinforcement-of-low-rate schedules, key peck,
pigeons