Perseveration of the partial reinforcement effect in extinction with rats over two phases of extinction and two stages of continuous reinforcement.
One group of 10 male albino rats was given partial reinforcement while the other 10 rats received continuous reinforcement in a straight alley. Subjects then experienced five consecutive stages of Extinction 1, Continuous Reinforcement 1, Extinction 2, Continuous Reinforcement 2, and finally, Extinction 3. Analysis showed the partial reinforcement effect in extinction was sustained over two stages of extinction and two stages of continuous reinforcement, since subjects receiving partial reinforcement ran faster than rats given continuous reinforcement throughout all three of the extinction periods. The results seem to support those of Amsel's (1967) and Cabpaldi's (1967) theoretical formulations of the partial reinforcement effect in extinction.
Calef
Richard S
RS
West Virginia Wesleyan College, Buckhannon, West Virginia 26201, USA. calef_rs@wvwc.edu
Choban
Michael C
MC
Glenney
Katherine R
KR
Calef
Ruth A
RA
Schmitt
Erik
E
Hinte
Sarah
S
Clegg
Megan
M
Kraynok
Joseph E
JE
Richards
Sallie D
SD
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D005108:Extinction, Psychological; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology