Fantino, E. & Romanowich, P. (2007).
The effect of conditioned reinforcement rate on choice: a review.
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 87, 409-421.
We review the nature of conditioned reinforcement, including evidence that conditioned reinforcers maintain
choice behavior in concurrent schedules and that they elevate responding in the terminal links of concurrent-
chains schedules. A question has resurfaced recently: Do theories of choice in concurrent-chains schedules need
to include a term reflecting greater preference for higher rates of conditioned reinforcement? The review of
several studies addressing this point suggests that such a term is inappropriate. Elevated rates of conditioned
reinforcement (and responding) in the terminal links of concurrent-chains schedules do not lead to greater
preference in the initial link leading to the higher rate of conditioned reinforcement. If anything, the opposite
preference is likely to occur. This result is not surprising, since the additional putative conditioned
reinforcers in the terminal link are not correlated with a reduction in time to primary reinforcement nor with
an increase in value.
Key words: conditioned reinforcement, choice, delay-reduction theory, hyperbolic value-added model, reinforcement rate, mathematical models, concurrent-chains schedules