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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.
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