The effects of time -correlated behavior on responding under a peak-interval trials procedure.
Item
-
Title
-
The effects of time -correlated behavior on responding under a peak-interval trials procedure.
-
Identifier
-
AAI3115246
-
identifier
-
3115246
-
Creator
-
El-Roy, Daphna.
-
Contributor
-
Adviser: Nancy Hemmes
-
Date
-
2004
-
Language
-
English
-
Publisher
-
City University of New York.
-
Subject
-
Psychology, Behavioral | Psychology, Experimental
-
Abstract
-
Human adult performance under Fixed-Interval (FI) reinforcement schedules has been hypothesized to be affected by counting or similar time-correlated behavior emitted by the subjects. In this study, the type of time-correlated stimuli that were available was manipulated. Undergraduate Psychology students typed "win" under an FI schedule as they performed a concurrent number-reading task---pronouncing three-digit numbers that appeared successively on a computer monitor during Fl trials. The independent variable was the sequence of these numbers---a sequential order designed to resemble counting during one experimental condition, and random order to potentially interfere with counting during a second experimental condition. Under a Peak-Interval (PI) trials procedure, unreinforced probe trials were interspersed within blocks of FI trials. These trials allowed for the examination of performance before and after the FI value elapsed. For all four participants in Experiment 1, temporal control of responding was greater during the consecutive-numbers condition versus the random-numbers condition. The mean latency to the first response was closer to 30-s from the beginning of the trial (when 20 numbers had appeared), as opposed to when a reinforcer was first available during FI trials (20-s from the beginning of the trial) across experimental conditions. This outcome suggests that the cumulative number of numbers presented during the trial, rather than elapsed trial duration, controlled participant performance. To permit dissociation of control of responding by these two variables, the rate at which the number stimuli were presented was manipulated in Experiment 2. Both number sequence (consecutive versus random) and number presentation rate were manipulated. Control by number of seconds was suggested in two of ten participants' data. Control by number of numbers was suggested in three participants' data. The source of control with respect to rate was unclear in the data of five participants.
-
Type
-
dissertation
-
Source
-
PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
-
degree
-
Ph.D.
