Okouchi, H. & Lattal, K.A. (2006).
An analysis of reinforcement history effects.
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 86, 31-42.
Four pigeons were exposed to two tandem variable-interval
differential-reinforcement-of-low-rate schedules under different
stimulus conditions. The values of the tandem schedules were
adjusted so that reinforcement rates in one stimulus condition were
higher than those in the other, even though response rates in the two
conditions were nearly identical. Following this, a fixed-interval
schedule of either shorter or longer values than, or equal to the
baseline schedule, was introduced in the two stimulus conditions
respectively. Response rates during those fixed-interval schedules
typically were higher in the presence of the stimuli previously
correlated with the lower reinforcement rates than were those in
the presence of the stimuli previously correlated with the higher
reinforcement rates. Such effects of the reinforcement history
were most prominent when the value of the fixed-interval schedule
was shorter. The results are consistent with both incentive contrast and!
response strength conceptualizations of related effects. They also suggest
methods for disentangling the effects of reinforcement rate on subsequent
responding, from the response rate with which it is confounded in many conventional
schedules of reinforcement.
Key words: behavioral history, reinforcement rates, within-subject comparison,
fixed-interval schedules, differential-reinforcement-of-low-rate schedules,
incentive contrast, key peck, pigeons