title: On the classic and modern theories of matching.
abstract: Classic matching theory, which is based on Herrnstein's (1961) original matching equation and includes the well-known quantitative law of effect, is almost certainly false. The theory is logically inconsistent with known experimental findings, and experiments have shown that its central constant-k assumption is not tenable. Modern matching theory, which is based on the power function version of the original matching equation, remains tenable, although it has not been discussed or studied extensively. The modern theory is logically consistent with known experimental findings, it predicts the fact and details of the violation of the classic theory's constant-k assumption, and it accurately describes at least some data that are inconsistent with the classic theory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA. jack.mcdowell@emory.edu
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: McDowell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001070:Appetitive Behavior; D001288:Attention; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003214:Conditioning, Classical; D003625:Data Collection / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D008128:Logic; D008432:Mathematical Computing; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009042:Motivation; D016011:Normal Distribution; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule