Hyperbolic value addition and general models of animal choice.
Three mathematical models of choice--the contextual-choice model (R. Grace, 1994), delay-reduction theory (N. Squires & E. Fantino, 1971), and a new model called the hyperbolic value-added model--were compared in their ability to predict the results from a wide variety of experiments with animal subjects. When supplied with 2 or 3 free parameters, all 3 models made fairly accurate predictions for a large set of experiments that used concurrent-chain procedures. One advantage of the hyperbolic value-added model is that it is derived from a simpler model that makes accurate predictions for many experiments using discrete-trial adjusting-delay procedures. Some results favor the hyperbolic value-added model and delay-reduction theory over the contextual-choice model, but more data are needed from choice situations for which the models make distinctly different predictions.
Mazur
J E
JE
Department of Psychology, Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, Connecticut 06515, USA. mazur@southernct.edu
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D002755:Choice Behavior; D010856:Columbidae; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology