title: Falsification of matching theory and confirmation of an evolutionary theory of behavior dynamics in a critical experiment.
abstract: Two competing predictions of matching theory and an evolutionary theory of behavior dynamics, and one additional prediction of the evolutionary theory, were tested in a critical experiment in which human participants worked on concurrent schedules for money (Dallery et al., 2005). The three predictions concerned the descriptive adequacy of matching theory equations, and of equations describing emergent equilibria of the evolutionary theory. Tests of the predictions falsified matching theory and supported the evolutionary theory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. Electronic address: psyjjmd@emory.edu.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: McDowell
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Olivia L
authors.initials: OL
authors.lastname: Calvin
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hackett
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Bryan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Klapes
mesh_terms: D005075:Biological Evolution; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology
keywords: Behavior dynamics; Evolutionary theory; Falsification; Matching theory; Prediction; Selection by consequences; Selectionism