Peer reviewed
ERIC Number: EJ697133
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2005
Pages: 16
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0033-2933
EISSN: N/A
Effects of Behavioral History on Resistance to Change
Doughty, Adam H.; Cirino, Sergio; Mayfield, Kristin H.; da Silva, Stephanie P.; Okouchi, Hiroto; Lattal, Kennon A.
Psychological Record, v55 n2 p315 Spr 2005
Two experiments examined whether differential resistance to change would occur under identical variable-interval schedules as a function of a differential behavioral history. In Experiment 1, each of 3 pigeons first pecked at different rates under a multiple variable-ratio differential-reinforcement-of-low-rate schedule. In a subsequent condition, a multiple variable-interval variable-interval schedule operated in the presence of the same training stimuli, during which there were three 4-session prefeeding probes each occurring during a different stage of training. Pecking generally was more resistant to change in the presence of the stimulus previously correlated with the differential-reinforcement-of-low-rate schedule, and this result was more reliable during the earlier probes. In Experiment 2, each of 3 pigeons first was exposed to a multiple variable-interval extinction schedule, after which a variable-interval schedule replaced extinction. During 3 probes, each conducted during a different stage of multiple variable-interval variable-interval schedule training, food was delivered response independently between components. In the first probe, pecking was more resistant to change for each pigeon under the variable-interval schedule that had been in effect longer, but during the final 2 probes this differential resistance was absent. The present results, therefore, show that under identical schedules a behavioral history can influence resistance to change differentially, but that these history effects tend to dissipate with continued exposure to the identical schedules.
Descriptors: Behavioral Science Research
The Psychological Record, Kenyon College, Gambier, OH 43022. Web site: http://www.thepsychologicalrecord.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A