Concurrent schedule responding as a function of body weight |
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| Authors: | Frances K McSweeney |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Psychology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington
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| Abstract: | Five pigeons pecked for food reinforcement on several concurrent schedules. Their body weights were varied from 80% to 110% of their free-feeding weights. A number of predictions of the equations proposed by Herrnstein (1970) were tested. As predicted, the relative rate of responding equalled the relative rate of reinforcement for all subjects, on all schedules, at all body weights. And, as predicted, the overall rates of responding on the components of a concurrent schedule were slower than the local rates of responding on the components of an identical multiple schedule. Contrary to prediction, the total rate of responding generated by the concurrent schedules did not increase with increases in the total rate of reinforcement they provided. And, contrary to prediction, the k parameter did not remain constant, and the R0 parameter did not increase with increases in body weight. It was concluded that Herrnstein’s matching law and his interpretation of the m parameter are correct but that the interpretations of k and R0 require further investigation. |
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