title: An alternative to the stay/switch equation assessed when using a changeover-delay.
abstract: An alternative to the generalized matching equation for understanding concurrent performances is the stay/switch model. For the stay/switch model, the important events are the contingencies and behaviors at each alternative. The current experiment compares the descriptions by two stay/switch equations, the original, empirically derived stay/switch equation and a more theoretically derived equation based on ratios of stay to switch responses matching ratios of stay to switch reinforcers. The present experiment compared descriptions by the original stay/switch equation when using and not using a changeover delay. It also compared descriptions by the more theoretical equation with and without a changeover delay. Finally, it compared descriptions of the concurrent performances by these two equations. Rats were trained in 15 conditions on identical concurrent random-interval schedules in each component of a multiple schedule. A COD operated in only one component. There were no consistent differences in the variance accounted for by each equation of concurrent performances whether or not a COD was used. The simpler equation found greater sensitivity to stay than to switch reinforcers. It also found a COD eliminated the influence of switch reinforcers. Because estimates of parameters were more meaningful when using the more theoretical stay/switch equation it is preferred.
authors: Department of Psychology, Fordham University, 441 E. Fordham Road, Bronx, NY 10458, United States. Electronic address: jmacdonall@fordham.edu.
authors: James S
authors: JS
authors: MacDonall
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology
keywords: COD; Changeover delay; Concurrent choice; Lever press; RI; Random interval; Stay/switch model; VI; rats; variable interval