Effects of reinforcement duration on the previous and upcoming ratios on between-ratio pausing in Fixed-Ratio schedules

Abstract

The performance of hens under multiple fixed-ratio fixed-ratio schedules was examined when the consequences were two different durations of reinforcement. The components of the multiple schedule were arranged so that the four possible transitions between reinforcer durations occurred (short to long, long to short, short to short and long to long). The response requirement in effect was the same in both components and varied over conditions. The between-ratio pauses increased with response requirement increases for all transitions. The pauses were consistently longest when the previous reinforcer duration was long and the upcoming duration was short. The next longest between-ratio pauses occurred when both the previous and the upcoming reinforcer durations were short. The between-ratio pauses were short when the upcoming reinforcer duration was long, tending to be shortest when the previous duration was short rather than when it was long. These data showed that the upcoming reinforcer had the greatest affect, although the previous reinforcer also had some effect on pause length. Longer between-ratio pauses were not the result of having just received access to a longer reinforcer. When the discriminative stimuli were removed and the response requirement was varied, between-ratio pauses again increased with FR increases. They were now similar and longer when the previous reinforcer duration was long and similar and shorter when the previous duration was short, regardless of the upcoming reinforcer duration. Thus pauses following a longer reinforcer were longer than those following a shorter reinforcer, as is seen with the magnitude of reinforcer effect. The range of pause lengths was reduced when compared to that with the multiple schedule, with the shorter pauses being longer and longer pauses being shorter.