THE EFFECTS OF INDEPENDENTLY VARYING THE TEMPORAL POSITION OF ONSET AND OFFSET OF AN INTRUDED STIMULUS IN A FIXED-INTERVAL SCHEDULE.
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Title
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THE EFFECTS OF INDEPENDENTLY VARYING THE TEMPORAL POSITION OF ONSET AND OFFSET OF AN INTRUDED STIMULUS IN A FIXED-INTERVAL SCHEDULE.
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Identifier
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AAI8302541
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identifier
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8302541
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Creator
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SCHILDKRAUT, VICTOR.
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Contributor
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Thom Verhave
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Date
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1982
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Psychology, Experimental
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Abstract
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Three groups of pigeons were exposed to a fixed interval schedule of reinforcement. For each group a new exteroceptive stimulus (S1), with a duration of 10% of the interreinforcement interval (I.R.I.), was introduced into each interval. For each group the initial point of intrusion was different. The transition points at which S1 and S2 were conterminous were called junctures. Each juncture was moved independently so that the duration of the newly intruded stimulus was successively increased until it filled the entire interval. In Phase 1 the onset (J1) of the intruded stimulus was moved toward prior reinforcement. In Phase 2 the offset (J2) of the intruded stimulus was moved away from prior reinforcement. The moving juncture was the independent variable. The temporal relations of this moving juncture, to both the stationary juncture and to reinforcement, was systematically explored. Functions were presented showing the effects of the relative positions of the junctures at all points in the fixed interval.;A second procedure placed the animals on a higher value FI schedule. Half the birds received no baseline training, while, half received 30 sessions of baseline training. For both groups the intruded stimulus was then simultaneously placed in the first and last tenth of the I.R.I. for 30 sessions. Functions, obtained with the placement of S1 in bins 1 and 10 following zero, 30, and 60 sessions of baseline training conditions, were compared.;It was found that the strength of the stimulus that controlled responding was enhanced by virtue of its proximity to reinforcement. This was compatible with the majority of the findings in the stimulus control literature. Exceptions were also noted. Both the prevalent findings and the exceptions were shown to be limiting cases of related effects that occur within a single continuous dimension. The temporal positions of the junctures, in relation to both reinforcement and to each other, were shown to be responsible for the shape of the functions. Finally, it was demonstrated that the underlying factor which determines the influence of "stimulus" control is the "uncued" schedule itself.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
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Program
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Psychology
