Behavioural Contrast in Discrete-Trial Discriminations: Effects of Non-Reinforcement

1975 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 259-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Euan M. Macphail
Keyword(s):  
Response Rates ◽  
Simultaneous Presentation ◽  
Fixed Interval ◽  
Frustration Theory ◽  
Simultaneous Discrimination ◽  
Positive Trial ◽  
Discrete Trial ◽  
Initial Stage ◽  
Frequent Response ◽  
Critical Requirement

Six pigeons performed an acquisition and three reversals of a discrete trial simultaneous discrimination in which responses to the positive key were reinforced on a fixed-interval 5-s schedule; trials were terminated by either a response to the negative key or the delivery of a reinforcement. In the initial stage of acquisition and each reversal, where errors were most frequent, response rates rose and latencies fell on positive trials; these effects declined as errors decreased. The birds were also run in two yoked control conditions, and results showed that the critical requirement for the positive trial rate and latency changes was neither the simultaneous presentation of two stimuli nor the formation of a discrimination, but the occurrence of non-reinforced responses. The similarity of these phenomena to conventional behavioural contrast is emphasized, and the results are discussed in terms of frustration theory.

Toward an Optimal Donation Solicitation: Evidence from the Field of the Differential Influence of Donor-Related and Organization-Related Information on Donation Choice and Amount

2018 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 142-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatiana M. Fajardo ◽  
Claudia Townsend ◽  
Willy Bolander
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
Response Rates ◽  
Simultaneous Presentation ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Choice Decision ◽  
Donation Behavior ◽  
Average Contribution

The present research decomposes consumer donation behavior into two components: donation choice (i.e., whether to donate) and donation amount (i.e., how much to donate). It then considers how information related to the donor and information related to characteristics of the soliciting organization may differentially influence the two decisions. Results from four field experiments suggest that donor-related appeals have a greater effect on the donation choice decision (vs. organization-related appeals), whereas organization-related appeals have a greater effect on the donation amount decision (vs. donor-related appeals). This might lead one to conclude that presenting both types of appeals in a solicitation is ideal. However, the studies presented herein also suggest that this strategy may backfire. The simultaneous presentation of donor- and organization-related appeals can hamper both donation response rates and average contribution amounts. To address this issue, the authors identify and test an alternative solicitation strategy for maximizing solicitation effectiveness. This strategy involves a multistep request process that capitalizes on an understanding of the differential influence of donor- and organization-related information on donation choice and amount decisions.

Fixed Interval Schedules and Delay of Reinforcement

1970 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 663-673 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Morgan
Keyword(s):  
Response Rates ◽  
Fixed Interval ◽  
Delayed Reinforcement ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Interval Schedule ◽  
Fixed Interval Schedule ◽  
Considerable Similarity ◽  
Schedule Of Reinforcement ◽  
Delay Of Reinforcement

In a fixed interval schedule of reinforcement the only responses to be reinforced are those made when a certain time interval has elapsed since the previous reinforcement. The behaviour of three rats on such a schedule was compared with their behaviour on a schedule where a response made at any time during the interval was reinforced by setting up a reward which was delivered when the interval had elapsed. Response rates were higher in the ordinary fixed interval schedule than in its modified version, and it is argued that this rules out attempts to explain the maintenance of fixed interval performance by delayed reinforcement. Despite the clear difference in response rates, there was considerable similarity between the post-reinforcement pauses developed in the two schedules, and this suggests that pausing is influenced more by temporal than by response contingencies.

Investigation of Gaas Deep Etching by Using Reactive Ion Etching Technique

1991 ◽  
Vol 240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kuen-Sane Din ◽  
Gou-Chung Chi
Keyword(s):  
Etch Rate ◽  
Etch Depth ◽  
Etching Technique ◽  
Deep Etching ◽  
Plasma Resistance ◽  
Initial Stage ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Critical Requirement ◽  
Inducing Surface ◽  
Etch Profile

ABSTRACTRIE is an important technique in obtaining anisotropie etch profile. This is a critical requirement for very deep etching which needs long etch duration. Among many factors which affect RIE characteristics in deep etching, the following are most concerned: (1) the etch mask: needs suitable plasma resistance without significant plasma attack for extended etch time; (2) Long time stability in etch rate and surface conditions for the sample; (3) Etch profile: should be anisotropie with tolerable undercut In this work, CCl2F2 and SiCl4 were used with CCl2F2 as the main etchant. Ar was used in the initial stage for sputtering away surface residues prior to actual etching was performed. Three types of etch masks were prepared and their performance such as plasma was investigated. Multilayer metal etch mask has very low etch rate in plasma and its etch rate selectivity is around 300. The etch selectivities of GaAs to Si3N4 and to photoresist are 35 and 23, respectively. Etch mask can be chosen depending on the thickness of etch mask and the required GaAs etch depth. The etch rate of GaAs was found significantly increased when metal mask was applied. While PR mask is easier for inducing surface coating.

scholarly journals The Reinforcement Magnitude of Flavored Stimulus Interferes with Omission Effects in Rats

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
José L. O. Bueno ◽  
Danielle M. Judice-Daher ◽  
Henrique G. Deliberato
Keyword(s):  
Response Rates ◽  
Fixed Interval ◽  
Interval Schedule ◽  
Temporal Control ◽  
Reinforcement Schedules ◽  
Fixed Interval Schedule ◽  
Discriminative Stimuli ◽  
Reinforcement Magnitude ◽  
Stable Performance ◽  
The Relationship

Reinforcement omission effects (ROEs) have beeninterpreted as behavioral transient facilitation after nonreinforcement inducedby primary frustration, and/or behavioral transient inhibition afterreinforcement induced by demotivation or temporal control. According to frustrationtheory, the size of the ROEs should depend directly on the reinforcementmagnitude: the behavioral facilitation after thereinforcement omission of larger magnitude should be greater than that observedafter the reinforcement omission of smaller magnitude. However, studiesinvolving operant paradigms have presenteddifficulty to demonstrate this relationship. Thus, the present study aimed toclarify the relationship between reinforcement magnitude and ROEsmanipulating the magnitude linked to discriminative stimuli in a partialreinforcement fixed interval schedule. Rats were trained on a fixed-interval 12 s with limitedhold 6 s signaled schedule in which correct responses were always followed byone of two reinforcement magnitudes (0.5 and 0.05 ml of a 0.15% saccharinsolution). After acquisition of stable performance, the training was changedfrom 100% to 50% reinforcement schedules. The results showed that responserates were higher after omission than after reinforcement delivery. Besides,results showed that response rates were highest after the reinforcementomission of larger magnitude than of smaller magnitude. However, thefindings did not support the hypothesis that the reinforcement omission of largemagnitude induces greater behavioral facilitation than the reinforcementomission of smaller magnitude. The data were interpreted in terms of ROEsmultiple process behavioral facilitation after nonreinforcement and behavioraltransient inhibition after reinforcement.

Behavior during Extended Exposure to a Multiple Fixed-Interval Adjusting Ratio Schedule of Reinforcement

1969 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 319-322
Author(s):  
John J. Randolph
Keyword(s):  
Response Rates ◽  
Fixed Interval ◽  
Ratio Schedule ◽  
Ratio Requirement ◽  
Schedule Of Reinforcement ◽  
Preceding Interval ◽  
Interval Ratio ◽  
Extended Exposure ◽  
Ratio Response

Three pigeons were exposed to a multiple FI 2 adjusting ratio schedule of reinforcement for periods up to 218 sessions. The ratio requirement was equal to the number of responses in the preceding interval. Ratio response rates varied between those normally found with VR schedules and patterns of responding similar to those produced by FI contingencies.

The Relative Importance of Responses to S+ and S− in Simultaneous Discrimination Learning

1979 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 329-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. P. Mullins ◽  
A. H. Winefield
Keyword(s):  
Discrimination Learning ◽  
Simultaneous Presentation ◽  
Constant Stimulus ◽  
Experimental Designs ◽  
Simultaneous Discrimination ◽  
Order Effects ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Methodological Problems

Earlier research indicated that errors were more important in discrimination learning than correct responses (the Moss-Harlow effect). This conclusion was based on a variety of experimental designs each of which had basic methodological problems, usually involving novelty or order effects. A circular apparatus which allowed the simultaneous presentation of several different stimuli was used to study discrimination learning with S + and S − differentially weighted. It was found that variability in S − was more detrimental to discrimination learning than variability in S + although this finding depended on the presence of a constant stimulus. The results were interpreted as supporting the proposition that in discrimination learning rats learn more to avoid S− than to approach S+.

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