Catania, A. C., & Sagvolden, T. (1980).
Preference for free choice over forced choice in pigeons.
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior,
34, 77-86.
In a six-key chamber variable-interval initial links of
concurrent-chain schedules operated on two lower white keys.
Terminal links operated on four upper keys; green keys were
correlated with fixed-interval reinforcement and red keys with
extinction. Free-choice terminal links arranged three green keys
and one red key; forced-choice terminal links arranged one green
key and three red keys. Thus, terminal links were equivalent in
number, variety, and information value (in bits) of the
keylights. Preferences (relative initial-link rates) were studied
both with location of the odd key color varying over successive
terminal links and with the odd color fixed at key locations that
had controlled either relatively high or relatively low terminal-
link response rates. Free choice was consistently preferred to
forced choice. Magnitude of preference did not vary
systematically with terminal-link response rate or stimulus
control by green and red keys. The origins of free-choice
preference could be ontogenic or phylogenic: organisms may learn
that momentarily preferred alternatives are more often available
in free than in forced choice, and evolutionary contingencies may
favor the survival of organisms that prefer free to forced
choice.