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
This is a Concurrent Variable Interval Schedule Choice Task protocol using pigeon as the model organism. The procedure involves 3 procedural steps, 3 equipment items. Extracted from a 1967 paper published in Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior.
Model and subjects
pigeon
Study window
Estimated timing pending
Core workflow
Training on concurrent variable interval schedules • Manipulation of reinforcement delay • Recording response distribution
Primary readouts
- Relative frequency of responding at each response key
- Relative immediacy of reinforcement (defined as reciprocal of delay)
- Matching between relative response frequency and relative immediacy of reinforcement
Key equipment and reagents
Use this page as an execution guide, then fall back to the source paper whenever you need exact exclusions, dosing details, or assay-specific caveats.
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Protocol Steps
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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.”