Source Paper
CHOICE AND DELAY OF REINFORCEMENT<sup>1</sup>
Shin‐Ho Chung, R. J. Herrnstein
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior • 1967
View Abstract
Pigeons were trained to peck either of two response keys for food reinforcement on equated aperiodic schedules. The distribution of responding at the two keys was studied as reinforcement was delayed for various durations. The relative frequency of responding at each key was shown to match the relative immediacy of reinforcement, immediacy defined as the reciprocal of the delay of reinforcement.
Concurrent Variable Interval Schedule Choice Task
Objective: To study matching behavior in pigeons by examining how the distribution of responding at two response keys matches the relative immediacy of reinforcement when delay of reinforcement is manipulated
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Protocol Steps
Training on concurrent variable interval schedules
Pigeons were trained to peck either of two response keys for food reinforcement on equated aperiodic schedules
Note: The schedules were equated, meaning both keys provided equal reinforcement rates under baseline conditions
View evidence from paper
“Pigeons were trained to peck either of two response keys for food reinforcement on equated aperiodic schedules.”
Manipulation of reinforcement delay
Reinforcement was delayed for various durations at one or both response keys while the distribution of responding was studied
Note: Different delay durations were tested to examine how delay affects choice behavior
View evidence from paper
“The distribution of responding at the two keys was studied as reinforcement was delayed for various durations.”
Recording response distribution
The relative frequency of responding at each key was recorded and analyzed
Note: Data collection occurred during the manipulation of reinforcement delays
View evidence from paper
“The distribution of responding at the two keys was studied as reinforcement was delayed for various durations.”