title: A laboratory comparison of two variations of differential-reinforcement-of-low-rate procedures.
abstract: We compared 2 variations of differential-reinforcement-of-low-rate (DRL) procedures: spaced-responding DRL, in which a reinforcer was delivered contingent on each response if a specified interval had passed since the last response, and full-session DRL, in which a reinforcer was presented at the end of an interval if the response rate was below criterion within the specified interval. We used a human-operant procedure and analyzed within-session responding to assess any similarities or differences between procedures. Data revealed a positive contingency between responding and reinforcement under the spaced-responding DRL schedule and a negative contingency under the full-session DRL schedule. Furthermore, 60% of the participants discontinued responding by the last full-session DRL session. Implications for the appropriate procedural and taxonomical usage of both DRL schedules are discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jessel
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Borrero
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: differential reinforcement of low rates; differential reinforcement of other behavior; human operant; interresponse time; translational research