Positive contrast as a function of component duration using a within-session procedure

Positive contrast as a function of component duration using a within-session procedure

Behaviourul Processes, 16 (1988) 21-41 Elsevier POSITIVE CONTRAST WITHIN-SESSION FRANCES AS A FUNCTION K. MCSWEENEY Accepted OF COMPONENT DURA...

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Behaviourul Processes, 16 (1988) 21-41 Elsevier POSITIVE

CONTRAST

WITHIN-SESSION

FRANCES

AS A FUNCTION

K. MCSWEENEY

Accepted

OF COMPONENT

DURATION

USING

A

PROCEDURE

AND

CAM L. MELVILLE

Department of Psychology, WA 99164-4830 , U.S.A.

(

21

10 November

1987

Washington

State

University,

Pullman,

)

ABSTRACT

McSweeney, F. K. and Melville, C. function of component duration using Behav. Process., 16 : 21-41

L. Positive contrast as a a within-session procedure.

Pigeons pecked keys for food reinforcers delivered by multiple schedules. Three experiments examined changes in the size of positive contrast with changes in component duration. They used a within-session procedure which measured rates of responding during the baseline and contrast phases within the same session. Contrast was largest for shorter components, a result similar to that found using traditional procedures. Therefore, the present results provide preliminary support for the use of the withinsession procedure to study contrast. They also showed that the inverse relation between key-peck contrast and component duration is a robust finding which survives major changes in procedure. Finally, they suggest that different functions relate the size of contrast to component duration for key pecking and treadle presssing. INTRODUCTION The yielded

study few

for this whether

failure

may

contrast

circumstances. failure

of multiple-schedule

generally

Such

to observe

have used

the more contrast

studies

studies

few

under

approach

to independent would

little

examine

only

particular because

to many

information. of examining

variables.

constrain

has

of the reason

conclusions

can be attributed

productive

contrast Part

frequently

to occur

yield

it provides

studies

behavioral

conclusions.

or fails

contrast

Therefore,

such parametric

be that

occurs

factors.

relating

accepted

different Few

studies

the functions

Information

theorizing

the

from

to a greater

degree.

---------Preparation of this manuscript was partially supported by NIMH Thedata werepresented at the1987 meeting of grantMH42466. the Psychonomic Society. The authors wish to thank Dr. John Hinson for his comments on an earlier version of this paper.

0376-6357/88/$03.50 0 1988Elsevier Science Publishers

B.V. (Biomedical

Division)

22

The time

required

to measure

to the failure

to conduct

is an increase

in responding

multiple

schedule

reinforcement decrease

in the other

contrast,

contrast

schedule

in responding

represented

contrast

of contrast,

and

fluctuations

study.

in response

rates

example,

subjects

may double

schedule

to its recovery

Spealman

and Gollub,

To encourage experiments problems. measures

a new

The within-session

schedules

1983;

Heyman,

equipment to

studies

measure

used

1983).

over

for a five-

time.

rates

by

For

from

one

et al., 1986;

phases

has been

similar

used

procedures

reduces

these

procedure

which

single

sessions.

within because

other

to study

(e.g., Ettinger

The replacement control

the present

which

use a within-session

of reinforcement

by computer

measurement

is confounded

of contrast,

of contrast

and contrast

approach

have successfully other

to 50

schedule.

for each

(e. g., McSweeney,

The experiments the baseline

for each

occur

First,

Thirty

1974).

parametric

test

drawbacks.

response

over

1986).

are required

which

their

that phase

in responding

the measure

a

of

the conditions

to conduct.

are required

Second,

Then

to the contrast

has two

subject

provides

to ensure

and Farmer,

450 to 750 sessions

parametric

and varies

fluctuations

sessions

90 to 150 sessions

which

components.

is recovered

Higa,

To

the conditions

the baseline

for each

is a

with

is conducted

holds

procedure

many

are conducted

Therefore,

point

requires

of a

of

contrast

component

in both

constant

than

contrast

of reinforcement.

which

Dougan,

This across-sessions

Negative

schedule

from

rather

(e.g., McSweeney,

sessions

of the conditions

the baseline

the changes

the procedure

Positive

of reinforcement

Finally,

contributed

component

conditions

in one component

in the other.

have

studies.

a constant

is conducted

may

a constant

component.

a baseline

conditions

reinforcement

during

during

in the other

the same

time

parametric

a worsening

in responding

improvements measure

with

contrast

authors

responding

and

on

Staddon,

of electromechanical

also makes

such procedures

easier

conduct. The present

experiments

the within-session whether produces component Positive

this

procedure.

procedure

the same duration contrast

offer

The experiments

produces

function

a relatively

contrast,

relating

for short

test of

determine

not only

but also whether

positive

as the traditional is largest

strong

contrast

across-sessions components

when

it

to procedure. pigeons

23

peck

keys

for

food

Kodera

and Rilling,

1971;

Spealman,

replicate

this

reinforcers

1976). finding

The present using

Three

experiments

procedures.

Different

replications

of the results

They are also between

and component that contrast

changes

responses

will

more

of Herrnstein's

for shorter

components

should

produce

observed been

more

for short

observed

Therefore, pecking,

peck

experiments

theories

might

larger

components. also

be

The

larger

m parameters

contrast

press

is not

treadles,

(McSweeney,

replicated

that

and terminal

and larger

it has

et al., 1986).

these

successfully

of

components

(1982) argued

should

pigeons

keys

theories when

for shorter

Although when

procedure.

Several

of interim

than for longer,

components

if future

different

of the relation

be largest

(1970) theory

pigeons

procedure.

using

and Staddon

contrast

to

to provide

duration. should

1982;

and Wheatley, attempt

the robustness

contrast.

when

these

are used

Ettinger

m parameter

experiments

within-session

in the competition produce

Shimp

of the within-sessions

to determine

For example,

and Staddon,

1982;

this function

procedures

predict

short.

dynamic

the

examine

contrast

contrast are

used

(Ettinger

McSweeney,

1976;

results

describe

for key

key-peck

contrast. Different procedural contrast

Positive

inversely

with

were

duration

the different

duration

contrast

duration

whether

functions

for key pecking

and negative

component

component

also used to determine

produced

to component

pressing.

with

procedures

differences

generally

for key pecking,

for treadle-pressing

relating

and treadle vary but directly

(McSweeney

et al.,

1986). The different warrant

investigation

theories

which

responses.

a simple

failure might

between

low

rates

occurs

functions

contrast

to an insensitivity

can easily

functions

1982),

for treadle explain

of component

why

pigeons

press changes

(e.g., Davison

of treadle or to poor pressing. contrast

duration

simple

For example,

in detecting

pressing

to

for all

out many

when

pressing

damaging

responses.

to difficulty

of treadle

(e.g., Staddon,

similarly

rules

between

to find positive

the components

explanations different

different

and treadle

they are particularly

contrast

be attributed

1978),

reinforcement

that

for key pecking

for the differences

treadles

in generally

because

argue

Finding

explanations

Ferguson,

functions

pressing

and to

discrimination

But, none should

of these

change

for the two

as

responses.

24

Therefore, differ This

the differences

in important

would

contrast

question

occurs

Herrnstein,

pressing

contrast several study

ways

from

and

operandum

for key

components Finally,

interval

contrast.

than

pressing,

interval that

reinforcers

for key

15

used

presented

pressing

but

timeout

but not

stimuli

The

to study

2-mext).

were

A three-second

pecking.

for treadle

schedule

in

of reinforcement

variable

for treadle

positive

to differ

2-mVI2-mandmultipleVI

operanda

treadle

in the

had

rate

extinction)

1983). and

to produce

key-peck

a higher

that

(e.g.,

Williams,

In order

15 second

the discriminative

produced

1978;

may

pressing.

for key pecking

to study

15-s

contrast

assume

responses

the experiment

used

VI

all

which

by differences

them.

of the multiple

response

for

that

and treadle

of contrast

Staddon,

used

(multipleV1

different

pecking

produced

those

suggest

functions

pressing,

multiple

The components

which

been

pressing

variable

key pecking

and

to measure

for treadle

(multiple

ways

Hinson

have

used

of treadle

second,

for key theories

the different

might

experiments

ways many

in similar

1970;

However,

in functions

on two on the same

separated

the

for key pecking.

appeared pecking

on the operandum but

not for treadle

pressing. Because

of the theoretical

is important

to determine

differences

produced

responses.

The present

contrast

Experiment

rate

of reinforcement

stimuli

by McSweeney

EXPERIMENT This McSweeney

away

Experiment

reinforcers.

(e.g., multiple

Experiment

et al.

from

positive

to those

key-peck

between

1 but also

contrast

uses

a high

VI

15-s

VI

moves

the

the operanda

which

produce

replicates

(1986) to study

treadle

used

the components.

2 but also

3 essentially

it

the

study

similar

1 studies

a timeout

Experiment

3 replicates

discriminative

with

between They

do this.

results,

procedural

differences

procedures

Experiment

procedure

2 replicates

Experiment

used

functional using

of these

any of these

experiments

pressing.

a two-key

baseline

the

for key pecking

for treadle using

importance

whether

the

15-s).

procedure

pressing.

1 experiment

uses

(1982) to study

of component

duration

a procedure postive

except

that

similar

key-peck

to that

contrast

the present

used

by

as a function

procedure

uses

a

25

within-session

different

procedure, and a timeout

components,

between

operanda the

for the two

components.

Method

Subjects: their

Four

free-feeding

experience

pecking

number

model

were

3124A-300,

the

evenly

walls

and

The

hopper

hopper

was

The

key

the chamber.

centered

the

Experimental

located

All

subjects

outlined

in the order

(baseline)

key; pecking

multiple on the key

were

was

conducted a multiple

key.

The

VI l-m ext schedule. left

key,

extinction

illuminated

when

were

placed

VI were

are

houselight

noises

from by a

l-m

VI

part

The

for food

the

conditions

was

The l-m

were

were

key.

into

part

schedule.

obtained

component

was

divided

first

by pecking

(contrast)

right

keys

into

listed.

obtained

its component

key. 5-W,

programmed

session

The VI l-m on the

The

pecked

1.

component

second

center

directly

in Table they

the

successively.

for the other

the right

was

room.

the experimental

for one component

reinforcers

key

and

corner.

previously

were

in which

condition,

presented

Reinforcers

from was

with

center

A fan masked

events

had

conditions

which

key

in diameter,

right

in another

experimental

parts

The

illuminated

A 4 cm

sesion.

they

two

not

in the upper

Therefore,

In each

keys

6.5 cm

center

illuminated

light.

10.5 cm under

reinforcers.

conducted

green

model

All

used.

located The

left key was

with

4.5 by 5.5 cm.

microcomputer

were

floor.

It was

throughout

Procedure:

the

pigeon

no effect. was

located

illuminated

outside

from

keys

was

had

by a forceof

operated

side

experiment.

measured

houselight

two

them.

right

Grason-Stadler

had

in a Grason-Stadler,

chamber,

and were The

22.5 cm

on it had

A food

enclosed

85% of

All

as subjects.

three-key,

E6446C,

sound-attenuating

in this

responses

SYM

reinforcement.

between

light.

not used

was

for food

0.1 N.

spaced

white

The

keys

2.5 cm in diameter

side

at approximately

served

number

approximately

maintained

weights,

A standard,

Apparatus: station,

pigeons,

body

The

the

left

by

presented was

appropriate

available.

a

scheduled

26

TABLE

1

The conditions conducted they were conducted

in Experiment

1 in the order

in which

--______---__--___-_~~--~~~~~~__---____--__----__----___~~-_----_ Component duration Number of components per --______---______--_-~-------~_-~~~~----~__---~---~~~-~~--~~~~~~60 30 16 5 3

20 40 2 240 8

seconds seconds minutes seconds minutes

Component

duration

listed

in Table

during

which

in Table

been

some

Reinforcers mixed

responses

were

were

collected

presentation

Each

in each

becoming

extremely

of 5-s access lights

during

experimental

number

was

stable

responding

chosen

were

parts

Reinforcers

which

changed

of the

to the magazine

were

All

reinforcers in Fleshler

scheduled

held

which

and no

outlined

were

to

long.

extinguished

procedure

listed

conditions

reinforcement.

to the

a component

were

ofthetwo

from

Key

the

of components

experimental

according

of that

Sessions

the number

as

timeout,

separated

across

consisted

before

when

conditions,

a three-second

varied

grain.

(1962).

experimental

illuminated,

presented

recorded

scheduled

and Hoffman

ended

sessions

contained

across

conditions,

key was

The number

prevent

varied

In all

Sessions

lhad

session.

1.

neither

components.

part

over

but

not

for the

next

component.

conducted condition because when

daily, was

it is more

pigeons

five

to six times

conducted

peck

for

than keys

per

week. This

40 sessions.

sufficient on multiple

to produce schedules

1982).

(e.g., McSweeney,

Results Table

2 presents

each

component

calculated component The time all

the

of each

by dividing

of responding

for which

calculations. emitted

multiple

for which

the magazine The

results

during

the

in pecks

all subjects

schedule.

the number

by the time

of the rates

rates

for the meanof

foreachsubjectand

Response

of pecks that

was

presented

presented last

emitted

component

five

per minute

responding

was was

in Table sessions

rates during

on

were a

available. excluded 2 are

from

the

for which

means each

27

schedule

TABLE

was

conducted.

2

Response rates in responses per minute during each multiple schedule conducted in Experiment

each 1

component

of

Schedule ----_--30-second components l-minute components --~~~~-~~~~-~~--_---_----_----~~~--c~~_contrast contrast baseline baseline Subject compon _-____----_----~~~--~~-~-~~~--~~---~~-------_--___~~---~~~-~~~-1

left right

48.6 39.4

65.8 14.7

50.6 57.2

88.7 23.3

11

left right

70.6 145.2

63.5 85.0

105.1 141.1

156.2 85.6

12

left right

103.4 44.0

112.5 29.8

86.7 105.4

105.3 34.5

13

left right

139.3 190.2

166.3 84.2

170.9 116.8

163.0 38.5

mean

left right

90.5 104.7

102.1 53.4

103.3 105.1

128.3 45.5

Schedule ------_16-minute components 5-second components _-_--___-__-___--___ ------------------c Subject compon baseline contrast baseline .contrast _--____________________~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1

left right

54.0 46.8

77.6 5.9

89.1 12.6

100.4 4.6

11

left right

103.6 116.1

100.6 24.2

155.0 92.3

191.8 36.9

12

left right

108.5 107.5

65.8 23.1

131.2 130.8

160.8 35.8

13

left right

135.2 91.2

113.4 23.5

165.9 47.1

181.2 23.0

mean

left right

100.3 90.4

89.4 19.2

135.3 70.7

158.6 25-l--

28 --_--____-__________~~--~~~~~-~~~~_--~~~-----------~_---~~---~~~_ TABLE 2 (contiued) Schedule ---_---3-minute component --_-----_--__-_-_Subject compon baseline contrast ___---_----~~---~~~---~~~-~~~~~-~~~ 1

left right

52.1 58.4

83.4 11.7

11

left right

106.5 157.3

122.9 57.4

12

left right

117.0 129.0

88.1 53.9

13

left right

148.2 137.8

179.7 52.8

mean

left right

106.0 120.6

118.5 44.0

.-- ~~-----___----____-___--------~~The rates baseline which

rates

differences over

Each

probably

of all

of responding ext,

reported

on the

fall

negative

induction,

defined

the

But,

left

of contrast

key

size

of responding

during

the

were

based

subject

was

on the left key

schedule,

the horizontal

which

fall

from

contrast,

the

multiple

on the data

a constant

component

a trends

the

in the

with

at 0 represent line rate

decreases

represent of in the

rate

component.

the variable

of contrast

line

below

as a decrease

in the other

1 reveals

measurement

al., 1986).

The

VI l-m VI l-m

above

Points

Figure

for an individual

rate

per

in minutes.

results

Calculations

contrast.

during

the

duration

1982).

2.

which

of reinforcement

the

two-

Davison,

in responses

of component

subjects.

positive

responding

of contrast

operandum

when

and

the

These

for one appear

(e.g., Charman

multiple

schedule.

in Table

Points

usually

of the

provided

components.

a preference

size

represents

the baseline,

VI l-m

the

components

2, or in the tables

schedules

in the two

used

by subtracting

two

the baseline

as a function

or for the mean

rate

are

the

in Table

differences

1 presents

plotted

determined

equal

represent

Such

set of axes

during

though

procedures

Figure minute

during

not

of reinforcement

the other.

operanda

were

even

follow,

same

of responding

schedules

results

which

(e.g., McSweeney, test

applied

to the

are typical

1982; points

of

McSweeney in Figure

et 1

29

revealed

a significant

contrast

and

test

matched

for

smaller

the

30-s,

relation

duration

pairs

significantly shorter,

linear

component

also

showed

for the

ones

between

the size of

(F(1,12) = 5.26, that

longest,

contrast 16-m,

ptO.05).

A t-

was

component

than

for

(t(3) = 2.84, p
II

a fk 5

15 COMPONENT

DURATION

(MINUTES)

contrast as a function of component duration in Fig. 1. Positive by Experiment 1. The size of contrast has been measured subtracting the rate of responding during the left component of the multiple VI l-m VI l-m baseline from the rate of responding in the left component during the multiple VI l-m extinction The size of contrast is reported in responses per schedule. duration in minutes. minute, component

30

EXPERIMENT

2

Experiment higher

rates

study

positive

2 replicates

Experiment

of reinforcement contrast

for

used

1 except

by McSweeney

treadle

that

it uses

et al.

the

(1986) to

pressing.

Method Subiects: They

here. feeding

The

were

body

used

in Experiment

at approximately

and Procedure:

in Experiment

Experiment

subjects

1 were

used

05% of their

free-

was

one

weights.

Apparatus used

same

maintained

1.

1 except

The

that

15-sVI15-sand the

The

apparatus

procedure

was

the baseline

also

schedule

contrastschedulewas

the same

identical was

to

a multiple

a multiple

VI

VI 15-s

ext.

Results Table component meanof

3 presents of each

multiple

all subjects.

Table

2.

TABLE

3

the

rates

of responding

schedule

All data

for all

emitted subjects

during and

for

werecalculatedastheywere

Response rates in responses per minute during each multiple schedule conducted in Experiment

each 2

each the for

component

of

____c_______________~~~~~~~~--------------_--_------_----____--_-

Schedule -____--_ 30-second components l-minute components ------------------_----------------___ contrast baseline contrast baseline Subject compon _______________--_----------~---------_________--_-------_-__-___ 69.0

2.8

55.5 52.1

74.3 6.1

93.2 208.8

85.1 51.1

76.9 148.5

72.2 35.6

left right

125.3 106.9

123.7 29.1

119.4 109.4

163.7 30.0

13

left right

161.7 156.7

189.1 35.9

121.3 101.5

148.9 23.9

mean

left right

107.6 132.0

116.7 29.7

93.3 102.9

114.8 23.9

left right

50.1 55.7

11

left right

12

1

31

_____----------------------------~--------~-_~~-~--~~~~--------~ 3 (continued)

TABLE

Schedule _-------

16-minute components ---_-----_---__---_contrast Subject compon baseline __----------_-----~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

5-second components ---_---_------~~~~~ baseline contrast ----_--------------~~~~

1

left right

46.7 40.7

46.8 1.8

111.6 56.3

149.2 8.6

11

left right

71.8 86.4

67.1 3.5

66.1 120.4

92.0 51.6

12

left right

70.6 115.8

70.5 0.3

142.6 134.0

177.6 27.2

13

left right

34.9 57.7

37.5 6.8

154.8 120.0

129.8 15.9

mean

left right

56.0 75.2

55.5 3.1

118.8 107.7

137.2 25.8

_____~________---_-_------------------------------~_~~~~~~~~~~~~ Schedule -------3-minute components ----------_--~~---~ Subject compon baseline contrast --------------_------~~~~--------1

left right

83.6 63.6

96.3 6.3

11

left right

59.4 133.9

80.7 30.3

12

left right

119.8 104.1

168.9 30.8

13

left right

124.4 98.2

134.2 13.2

mean

left 96.8 120.0 right 100.0 20.2 ____________________~~~~~--~~--~-_--______-__________--------~~~ Figure

2 presents

component

duration

subjects.

Points

A trends reveal

t-tests

and

test

less

size

showed

(ptO.05) the

for 3-m

as a function

for the mean

as they

relationship

duration

pairs

and

to the points

linear

(t(3) = 2.41) and

of contrast

subject

calculated

applied

component

for matched

significantly 30-s

were

a significant

contrast

the

for each

were

in Figure between

(F(1,12) = that the

the

16-m

for

1.39,

size

Figure 2 did

the

size

p>O.O5).

of contrast

components

Of

of all

than

(t(3) = 2.54) components.

1. not of But, was for the

32

13

I

8 w

N

5 2o

5

0

Is

15

MEAN

15

5

COMPONENT

DURATION

(MINUTES) Fig. 2. The size of positive contrast as a function of component duration in Experiment 2. The figure has been plotted as in Figure 1. EXPERIMENT

3

Experiment discriminative

3 was

identical

stimuli

multiple

schedule

operanda

which

which

appeared

produced

to Experiment

signalled

2 except

the components

on the center

key

instead

that

the

of the of on the

reinforcers.

Method Subjects:

Four

pigeons

maintained

at approximately

85% of

33

their had

free-feeding

pecked

placed

keys

directly

into

Apparatus one

used

and

to that

discriminative and

right

key

It was

produced

white

The sixteen-minute

relatively

small.

reinforcers

multiple

reinforcers

alleviated

Pecks

center left

red light left and

during

also

when

right

both was

also

of them

failed

delivered

during

long

requires

the

that

problem

the

from

longest

Failure

all

on this very

to collect

all

The

of reinforcement

the baseline

components

to some

to collect

impossible.

rate

by a

were

components

of contrast

on the

were

replaced

some

component

pecks

components.

Therefore,

schedule.

was

produced

keys

experiment

15-s

on the

key key

in this

in one

this

The

to the

the

key.

on the

duration

the measurement

Shortening

phase.

light

component

of contrast

constant

with The

was

The subjects

15-s VI

made

definition held

VI

subjects were

identical

that

center

pecks

illuminated

reinforcers.

duration.

procedure

on the

when

was

2 except

reinforcers.

light

with

and therefore

apparatus The

2.

appeared

produced

ten-minute

rich

The

in Experiment

green

All

as subjects.

experiment.

1 and

used

illuminated

of the

served

experiment,

Procedure:

keys

with

reinforcers.

both

the

stimuli

illuminated

right

weights

in Experiments

identical

left

body

in a previous

be

to the contrast

to ten minutes

extent.

Results Table component mean Table

4 presents of each

of all

subjects.

2 with

subjects

did

the

following always

this

rich

in the data 4 are not When

were

analysis. always

the

mean

sessions,

five

sessions

then

the reported

in which

these

As discussed,

the

this

reinforcers happened

the data

of the

from

the

reinforcement. conditions Subject

83005

last

data

all reinforcers

suchsessionsdidnotoccur,

full

and were

all of their

in which

each

as they

calculated

Therefore,

during subject

last

for the for

from

could

presented

five

not

be

in

sessions.

a subjectdidnotobtainallreinforcersinthelast

five

sessions,

for each

exceptions.

collect

Sessions

schedule.

of responding

schedule

Rates

not

used Table

the rates

multiple

five,

Footnotes

are the mean were

the data

are the mean

in which

the subject

in the

table

of the

obtained.

indicate

last

When

five

of two did

obtain

whenever

occurred. also

failed

to obtain

all

reinforcers

in any

34

session indicate all at

for two when

subjects all

TABLE

component

that are

durations.

occurred.

the

mean

The

Blanks

data

for the three

in the table

reported

for the mean

subjects

which

durations.

4

Response rates in responses per minute during each multiple schedule conducted in Experiment

each 3

component

~~~~~~~----------~-~~~~~-----_--~~~~~~~~--_----~__-----_~------Schedule ____-___ l-minute components 30-second components ------_-_--_-_----_----_--------~----baseline contrast contrast Subject compon baseline ~~~~~~~---_-----_-------_______---------___________------_____ left right

48.8 60.3

77.0 6.9

51.9 77.6

77.9

83004

left right

29.0 21.2

37.4 6.6

43.11 34.1

48.5l 9.1

83005

left right

19.0 27.3

39.3 4.6

31.31 49.8

49.11 4.5

2457

left right

51.2 60.8

60.0 10.2

34.5 24.7

58.3 23.8

mean of 3

left right

43.0 47.4

58.4 7.9

43.2 45.5

61.6 17.2

83002

of

responded

18.8

____---_____-__-_------_______----------___------~~~~~~~~-~~~~~~Schedule ------__ lo-minute components 5-second components ------_------------_-----------------Subject compon baseline contrast baseline contrast ~-~~~~~_--_----~-~~~~~~~_---~~--~~~~~-~~~-_---~~-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 83002

left right

50.9 58.3

54.7 0.3

61.5 70.8

91.7 9.4

83004

left right

22.6 19.1

4.5 0.4

26.42 24.6

32.72 7.1

83005

left right

31.8 35.3

4.4 0.1

-_-

-__

2457

left right

33.8 45.8

36.8 1.9

13.1 12.1

28.7 0.9

mean left 35.8 32.0 33.7 51.0 of 3 right 41.1 0.9 35.8 5.8 -------__________-__~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-~-~______-----------___----_

of

35

--_-________________~~~~~~~~~~--_--~~~~~--________--_---_-_--___~ TABLE

4 (continued)

Schedule -----___ 3-minute components ~~~~----_-~-----~-Subject compon baseline contrast ______-------------_-------------83002

left right

59.0 90.3

84.2 7.2

83004

left right

25.32 32.7

2J.a2 3.1

83005

left right

---

---

83006

left right

25.42 35.7

24.52 3.1

mean left 36.6 45.5 of 3 right 52.9 4.5 _____---~~----------~----~--------_-~-~--~_--------~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ iBased on the mean of five earlier sessions. Based on the mean of only two sessions. Figure

3 presents

of component

the

size

subjects.

The

size

of contrast

Figure

The

data

presented

1.

of contrast

for each subject

duration

was

plotted

calculated

in Table

as a function

and for the mean

4 were

of all

as it was used

for

in these

calculations. A trends significant component pairs

test

linear

applied

to the points

relation

duration

between

(F(1,8) =

alsoshowedthatthe

components

was

contrast

for

components.

GENERAL

significantly

the

5-s

than

for

present

the

60-s

T-tests

(ptO.05) than and

30-s

significantly components

to study

procedure

offers

approximately

contrast.

two

The

the

use

As argued

benefits.

one-third

procedure.

support

the

for

matched

size

of

(t(2) = 28.43) smaller

(t(2) =

for the

3.75).

of the within-session earlier,

use

It can be conducted

of the time present

a

and

Procedure results

procedure

sessions

less

also

p
3 revealed

of contrast

DISCUSSION

The Within-Session The

was

size

of contrastforthelO-m

(t(2) = 4.91)

Contrast

components

26.89,

size

in Figure

the

required

experiments

by the required

of this in across600

3-m

36

sessions would per

per

have

subject

required

1800

Second,

subject.

fluctuations periods

to conduct.

rates

required

procedure

or approximately

six years,

sessions,

it reduces

in response

of time

An across-sessions

which

by the

30

the

confounding occur

effect

across

across-sessions

of

the

the long

procedure.

83002

Gi 5 z

‘O

f

t

;; Y

wo 20 n

ro

E -2

0

I

20

a

0

L 5

W N

v,

20

I

2457

83005

0

I

15

MEAN

k ,

J

, 5

* COMPO

ri5E NT DURATION INUTES)

(M

Fig. 3. The size of positive contrast as a function of ccmponent duration in Experiment 3. The figure has been plotted as in Figure 1. In spite would

of these

not be used

the across-sessions

unless

advantages, it produced

procedure.

the

within-session

results

The present

similar

procedure to those

experiments

stow

of that

37

it does. To begin

the within-session

with,

Forty-four

contrast. subjects

of the

in Figures

contrast

Rachlin,

case

produced

in which

component key

during

present

pecking

reported

are

longer

similarity

the

two

cases,

the

within-session

the

functions

in the

30-s

components

30-s

than

this

Finally, across

the

results

Only

than

further They

differences

between

experiments

presented

different

operandum. changes

those

have the

operanda.

reported test

some

of

might

for

larger

for the for the

experiments,

1 to 3 are

these

(1982) used

more

variable

(1982). differences

procedural the

of the multiple only

be eliminated

procedure.

longer

significant.

by other

also

in minute

the

5-s than

it was

why

per

but not in

For example,

the components

within-sessions

occurred

by McSweeney

can determine

McSweeney

per minute

present

in Figures

produced

two

differences.

statistically

reported

of contrast

for the

for the

but

research

can be size

20 responses

in the

studies.

further

40 responses

larger

not

been

The differences

in the

similar

(19821,

reported

the

experiments,

was

was

research

may

was

was

a strong

procedure

induction

components

difference

subjects

occurred.

5-s

(e.g.,

contrast

promising,

exceeded

Negative

in McSweeney

for the

to

reported

contrast

provides

produce than

it rarely

Contrast

(1982).

procedure

relating

in all of the present

McSweeney

although

did

larger

study.

are

basically

the procedures

present

components

results

were

(19821, but

to those

largest

similarity

the

McSweeney

present

sometimes

one

procedures.

before

was

only

extinction

size of contrast

and smaller

Although

procedures,

report

the

in trend

be done

Contrast

tables

the

the

duration

(e.g.,

component.

Although

to component

the

phase

the within-session

across-session

This

of the

for

between

contrast

during

similar

components

components.

accepted.

two

The

relating

In both

for short

the

that

greater

also

using

1982).

for

in the

the other

functions

duration

McSweeney,

discriminate

was

good

One prerequisite

must

discrimination.

individual

contrast.

produces

schedule

2 to 4 show

responding

than

The

must

Tables

1973).

component

for

multiple

produces for

positive

also

the components.

the subjects

of the

procedure

procedure

between

is that

components

plotted

1 to 3 represent

The within-session discrimination

procedure

58 points

present schedule

on

one by minor

For example,

only

time

38

signalled

the

the present transition

change

from

the baseline Adding

experiments. might

decrease

to the contrast

another

variability

stimulus

and

phase

to signal

increase

in this

the size

of

contrast. The

present

results

determine

the

source

procedure

has

some

and it produces the

of the Function

positive

key-peck

ways

from

striking between the

McSweeney similar

each

may

operanda

procedure

negative

treadle-press

peck

Staddon,

not

appear

The

of

in many but

with

which

major

size

changed

changes

changes

in the

the components

a one-operandum

when

A twoproduces

procedure Positive

1978).

the discriminative but not

in

of positive

et al., 1986).

between

operandum

the

shorter by

Herrnstein,

the absolute

contrast

patterns

the decrease

As predicted

change

eliminate

when

changed

variables

to produce

but

size

is a robust

is particularly

(e.g., McSweeney,

of similar that

from

1982;

by

studies.

results

of five

a timeout

larger

experiments,

(McSweeney

contrast,

does

emergence

contrast

procedure,

produced

stimuli they

key

are

are not

1975).

suggests

is robust.

which

with

may

(e.g., Schwartz, The

shown

the

contrast

in both

of these

a factor

on the response

studies

emerged

of reinforcement

a timeout

that

of contrast.

changeby

contrast

to those

components

of the procedural

and occurrence

rate

located

suggest

to measure

has been

baseline

peck

to

within-session

the across-sessions

(1982) to the present

contrast

without

used

similarity

because

The

results

for short

results

the studies

size

also

contrast

The overall

over

similar

results

The procedure

basically

it is worthwhile

procedure.

The Form ---The

present

that

differences.

advantages

basically

across-sessions

finding.

suggest

of these

to the

several 19701,

of results

in the

size

longer

theories it is not

size of contrast,

across

the

of positive

component

key-

durations

(e.g., Ettinger altered but

and

by variables

which

do not

altogether.

The Generality

of Contrast The present results also

different treadle contrast

function pressing.

of component All

to component

suggest

that

duration

contrast

changes

for key pecking

and

of the

functions

relating

key-peck

duration

in this

experiment,

and

in

as a

39

(19821, differ

McSweeney contrast

(McSweeney,

negative

induction but

pressing, components

but

pressing,

or small

large

were

The

the

largest

contrast

for treadle

component

durations

for key

between

the

attributed measure

functions

between

Claiming

that

two

of the variables and

controlled

as close

procedure that

this

measured

procedures

positive

contrast

or negative hand,

the

pecking obtained

treadle the

pressing and

differences subjects, the

when

forms

cannot

in the

different

differences

they

or acrosssizeable

smaller

contrast

On the

other

(1986) for key though

Therefore, for key

functions

both

pecking

to the difference

were

the and

between

procedures.

all of these

studies that

the

of day at which laboratory,

even

functions

be attributed

between

et al.

procedures.

of the

and

long.

it is

of whether

reported

short were

by McSweeney

it is unlikely

occurred

climate

were

were

the

A

an across-

of the

regardless

components

within-sessions

the time

contrast.

However,

forms

All

come

in

3, but

experiments)

1982).

components when

across-sessions

because

laboratory,

similar

all

occurred

contrast

produced

the

(the present

pressing

across-

difference

that

studies

difference

in Experiment

earlier,

out.

possible.

for treadle-pressing.

and treadle

Second, same

used

used

to

identified

the present

is currently

used

require

been

can be

differences

ruled

would have

procedural

(McSweeney,

in the

be completely

treadle-press

reported

differences

studies

to measure

was

functions

using

the

procedural

used

basically

induction

minor

differences pressing

key-peck

by within-

sessions

the

to measure

As argued were

that

However, as

procedural

functions.

for

at one-minute

used

was

occurred

at 5 or 30-second

and treadle

behavior

identifiable

that

but

are identical

influence

procedure

for key pecking were

one

3 and

within-session

in the

never

studies.

Experiment

unlikely

can

identity

only

occurred

between

that

across

the procedure

sessions

differences

to achieving

First, between

pecking

procedures which

for treadle

induction

it unlikely

for key

studies

occurred

also

short,

When

for key pecking.

pressing,

The possibility

occurred

were

for treadle

pecking.

make

to procedural

them.

occurred

or negative

durations

results

components

contrast

contrast

for treadle-press

When

occurred

sizeable

component

The present

function

contrast

contrast

long,

little

key pecking.

from

et al., 1986).

were

other,

studies. the

The

studies

the physical

conducted

less

in the

obvious,

handling were

of the

conducted,

arrangement

of the

40

experimental were

held

enclosures,

as similar

Third,

the

to

function

relating

duration

is not

the form

of the functionis

form

The

present

two

that

responses.

might that these

provide future

key-peck

by major

basic

contrast

procedural

robust,

differences

it

etc.

the studies.

3 showthatthe

experiments

ruled

for the different

pressing.

evidence

across

feedings,

of the

to component Given

changes.

that

unlikelythatother

seems

would

form

radically

change

the

function.

explanations treadle

positive changed

procedural

of this

of post-session

as possible

Experiments1

unidentified

time

Therefore,

different However, a single

experiments

functions they

factors

might

the

possible

other

pecking

strongest

positive

explanation provide

possible

for key

provide

produce

it remains unified

out several

that

contrast future

for these

and current for the theories

functions

explanations

or

for

data.

REFERENCES Charman, L. and Davison, M., 1982. On the effects of component durations and component reinforcement rates in multiple schedules. J. Exp. Anal. Behav., 37: 417-439. The effects of different Davison, M. and Ferguson, A. 1978. component response requirements in multiple and concurrent J. Exp. Anal. Behav., 29: 283-295. schedules. Ettinger, R. H. and Staddon, J. E. R., 1982. Behavioral component duration and multiple schedule competition, contrast. Behav. Anal. Letters, 2: 31-38. R. H. and Staddon, J. E. R., 1983. The operant Ettinger, A static analysis. Behavioral regulation of feeding: Neuroscience, 97: 639-653. Fleshler, M. and Hoffman, H. S., 1962. A progression for generating variable-interval schedules. J. Exp. Anal. Behav., 5: 529-530. Herrnstein, R. J., 1970. On the law of effect. J. Exp. Anal. Behav., 13: 243-266. Heyman, G. M., 1983. A parametric evaluation of the hedonic and pimozide and amphetamine. J. motoric effects of drugs: Exp. Anal. Behav., 40: 113-122. Behavioral Hinson, J. M. and Staddon, J. E. R., 1978. competition: A mechanism for schedule interactions. Science, 202: 432-434. Kodera, T. L. and Rilling, M., 1976. Procedural antecedents of A re-examinination of errorless behavioral contrast: learning. J. Exp. Anal. Behav., 25: 27-42. Negative behavioral contrast on multiple McSweeney, F. K., 1978. treadle-press schedules. J. Exp. Anal. Behav., 29: 463-473. Positive and negative contrast as a McSweeney, F. K., 1982. function of component duration for key pecking and treadle pressing. J. Exp. Anal. Behav., 37: 281-293. McSweeney, F. K., Dougan, J. D, Higa, J. and Farmer, V. A., 1986. Behavioral contrast as a function of comoonent duration and

41

baseline rate of reinforcement. Anim. Learn. Behav., 14: 173-183. Rachlin, H., 1973. Contrast and matching. Psychol. Rev., 80: 217-234. Schwartz, B., 1975. Discriminative stimulus location as a determinant of positive and negative behavioral contrast in J. Exp. Anal. Behav., 23: 167-176. the pigeon. K. L., 1971. Matching to relative Shimp, C. P. and Wheatley, reinforcement frequency in multiple schedules with a short J. Exp. Anal. Behav., 15: 205-210. component duration. Interactions in multiple schedules: The Spealman, R. D., 1976. role of the stimulus-reinforcer contingency. J. Exp. Anal. Behav., 26: 79-93. L. R., 1974. Spealman, R. D. and Gollub, Behavioral interactions in multiple variable-interval schedules. J. Exp. Anal. Behav., 22: 471-481. Behavioral competition, contrast and Staddon, J. E. R., 1982. matching. In: M. L. Commons, R. J. HerrnSteiT. and H. Analyses of Behavior, Rachlin (Editors), Quantitative Matching and Maximizing Accounts (Vol. 2). Ballinger Publishing Company, Cambridge, Massachusetts, pp. 243-262. Williams, B. A., 1983. Another look at contrast in multiple J. Exp. Anal. Behav., 39: 345-384. schedules.