title: Choice behavior in transition: development of preference with ratio and interval schedules.
abstract: In Experiment 1, the choice responses of 8 pigeons were observed during 50 periods of transition. Each condition began with equal probabilities of reinforcement on 2 response keys and switched to unequal probabilities. With the ratio of the 2 probabilities held constant, preference for the higher probability developed more rapidly when the 2 probabilities were high than when they were low. In Experiment 2, each condition began with 2 equal variable-interval schedules, but later 1 key delivered 60%, 75%, or 90% of the reinforcers. The rate of approach to asymptotic performance was roughly the same with all 3 reinforcement percentages. These and previous results pose difficulties for some well-known models of acquisition, but the results are well described by a simple model that states that the strength of each response is independently increased by reinforcement and decreased by nonreinforcement.
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven 06515.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Mazur
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001288:Attention; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003118:Color Perception; D010856:Columbidae; D009042:Motivation; D009949:Orientation; D011337:Probability Learning; D011340:Problem Solving; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule