Abreu-Rodrigues, J., Lattal, K. A., dos Santos, C. V., & Matos, R. A. (2005).
Variation, repetition, and choice.
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 83, 147-168.
Experiment 1 investigated the controlling properties of variability contingencies
on choice between repeated and variable responding. Pigeons were exposed to
concurrent-chains schedules with two alternatives. In the REPEAT alternative,
reinforcers in the terminal link depended on a single sequence of four
responses. In the VARY alternative, a response sequence in the terminal
link was reinforced only if it differed from the n previous sequences
(lag criterion). The REPEAT contingency generated low, constant levels
of sequence variation whereas the VARY contingency[CS1] produced levels
of sequence variation that increased with the lag criterion. Preference
for the REPEAT alternative tended to increase directly with the degree
of variation required for reinforcement. Experiment 2 examined the
potential confounding effects in Experiment 1 of immediacy of reinforcement
by yoking the interreinforcer intervals in the REPEAT alternative to those
in the VARY alternative. Again, preference for REPEAT was a function of the
lag criterion. Choice between varying and repeating behavior is discussed
with respect to obtained behavioral variability, probability of reinforcement,
delay of reinforcement, and switching within a sequence.
Key words: variation, choice, concurrent-chains schedules, key peck, pigeons