An Analysis of Matching and Non-Matching Behavior Using a Single Key, Free Operant Procedure

AbstractOne experiment used a free operant procedure with rats to compare ABA, AAB and ABC renewal by using a within-subject testing procedure. All rats were first trained to press a lever for food in context A. Lever pressing was then extinguished in either context A or context B. For rats in the groups ABA and ABC extinction took place in context B, while the rats in group AAB received extinction in the same context in which acquisition took place (context A). Finally, all rats were tested for renewal in two sessions. One extinction session was carried out in the same extinction context and another session in a different context. Rats in the group ABA were tested in context B and in context A; rats in the group AAB were tested in contexts A and B, whereas the group ABC was tested in contexts B and C. The results of the ANOVA showed context renewal since all groups had higher rates of responding when they were tested outside the extinction context, F(2, 21) = 15.32, p = .001, ηp2 = .59; however, AAB and ABC renewal was lesser than ABA renewal, F(1, 21) = 16.70, p = .0001, ηp2 = .61.

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Effects of Different Volumes of Reward in a Free-Operant Procedure

Psychological Reports ◽

10.2466/pr0.1974.34.3.879 ◽

1974 ◽

Vol 34 (3) ◽

pp. 879-882 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

T. N. Tombaugh

Keyword(s):

Sucrose Concentration ◽

Discrete Trial ◽

Acquisition Performance ◽

Resistance To Extinction ◽

Free Operant ◽

Operant Procedure

Three different volumes (.01, .4 and .7 ml.) of a 32% sucrose concentration were employed in a free-operant bar-press study. In acquisition performance was a decreasing function of volume while in extinction greater persistence of performance was obtained for the .4 and .7 groups than for the .01 group. The extinction results were contrasted with those obtained in discrete-trial experiments which had employed a comparable range of volumes and number of reinforcements but which reported that large volumes tended to decrease rather than increase resistance to extinction.

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Overtraining Extinction Effect Using a Free-Operant Procedure

Psychological Reports ◽

10.2466/pr0.1972.31.2.539 ◽

1972 ◽

Vol 31 (2) ◽

pp. 539-544 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Tom N. Tombaugh ◽

Pierre St. Jean

Keyword(s):

Reinforcement Schedule ◽

Continuous Reinforcement Schedule ◽

Continuous Reinforcement ◽

Resistance To Extinction ◽

Extended Training ◽

Free Operant ◽

Time Required ◽

Increasing Function ◽

Operant Procedure ◽

Free Operant Situation

The effects of five levels of training (210, 490, 1470, 2450, 3430 reinforced responses) on extinction performance were investigated. A free-operant bar-press paradigm was employed. A continuous reinforcement schedule was used with .12 ml. of 64% sucrose. Number of bar-presses and duration of time to reach a 1-min. non-response criterion showed that resistance to extinction was an increasing function of the number of reinforcements during training. However, the amount of time required to reach a 5-min. criterion showed the opposite relationship. It was concluded that different criteria reflected different patterns of extinction behavior and that the overtraining extinction effect (decreased resistance to extinction following extended training) could be demonstrated in a free-operant situation if the appropriate criteria were selected.

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