Effects of reinforcement manipulation and availability in temporal chedules

Main Article Content

Claudio Carpio
Virginia Pacheco
Emilio Ribes Iñesta

Abstract

The effects of reducing within session the probability of reinforcement (P) and between phases the relative availability of reinforcement (T) were compared in temporally-defined schedules. Rats were exposed to T schedules with cycles of varying length, signaled and non-signaled during the period with reinforcement being available (td). Results show that the effects of T are relative to the absolute duration of td, with an effect on response rate but not in the performance pattern, while P mainly affects the performance pattern depending on the presence-absence of a signal in tD and irrespectively of the duration of the reinforcement cycle (T). These results are discussed in comparison to those reported with equivalent schedules. The importance of the criterion employed for manipulating T and P is stressed, and the results are analized according to the restrictions that these parameters impose over the effecctiveness and precision of responding in temporal schedules.

Article Details

How to Cite
Carpio, C., Pacheco, V., & Ribes Iñesta, E. (2011). Effects of reinforcement manipulation and availability in temporal chedules. Mexican Journal of Behavior Analysis, 17(1-2), 3–21. https://doi.org/10.5514/rmac.v17.i1-2.22924
Author Biography

Claudio Carpio

Doctora en Psicologia General Experimental, UNAM