Reinforcement frequency and contingency as factors in fixed-ratio behavior

Abstract

Two variables often confounded in fixed-ratio schedules are reinforcement frequency and response requirement. These variables were isolated by a technique that yoked the distributions of reinforcements in time for one group of pigeons to those of pigeons responding on various fixed-ratio schedules. The contingencies for the yoked birds were then manipulated by adding various tandem fixed-ratio requirements to their schedules. Post-reinforcement pause was approximately equal for the yoked and ratio pigeons, and was relatively insensitive to changes in the tandem requirement. Terminal response rate increased with increases in the tandem requirement, even though reinforcement rate was invariant. This increase was attributed to the progressive interference of the tandem requirement with the differential reinforcement of long interresponse times.