Shahan, T. A., & Lattal, K. A. (1998).
On the functions of the changeover delay.
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior,
69, 141-160.
The function of changeover delays in producing matching was
examined with pigeons responding on concurrent variable-interval
variable-interval schedules. In Experiment 1, no changeover delay
was compared to two different types of changeover delay. One
type, designated generically as response-response but in the
present example as peck-peck, was timed from the first response
on the switched-to key; the other, designated generically as
pause-response but in the present example as pause-peck, was
timed from the last response on the switched-from key. High
changeover rates occurred with no changeover delay. Peck-peck and
pause-peck changeover delays produced low and intermediate
changeover rates, respectively. In Experiment 2, pause-peck and
peck-peck changeover delays were compared across a range of
relative reinforcement rates. Similar matching relations
developed despite differences in the changeover rates and local
response patterns as a function of the type of changeover delay.
In Experiment 3, both types of changeover delay yielded similar
changeover rates when their obtained durations were equal via
yoking. The results suggest that changeover delays function to
separate responses on one key from reinforcers on the other or to
delay reinforcement for changing over. In addition, the
distribution of responding during and after the changeover delay
may vary considerably without affecting matching.
Key words: concurrent schedules, changeover delay, delay of
reinforcement, matching, key peck, pigeons