Fantino E, Goldshmidt J N
Department of Psychology, 0109, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0109, USA.
Psychol Sci. 2000 May;11(3):229-33. doi: 10.1111/1467-9280.00246.
In choice between outcomes with different delays to reinforcement, most theories require that choice be governed by the ratio of the delays, not by the difference between them, a requirement also consistent with Weber's law. Instead, delay-reduction theory and optimal-foraging theory stipulate, under conditions of the present experiments, that the difference between the delays, and not the ratio between them, controls choice. This prediction was assessed using a procedure, widely used in foraging experiments, in which pigeons chose between accepting and rejecting either of two delays when offered. Across conditions, the delays either differed by a constant amount, with the ratio between the delays varying, or differed by changing amounts, with the ratio between the delays constant. In each of six experiments, rate of acceptance of the longer delay depended only on the difference between the two delays and not on the ratio between them, supporting delay-reduction and foraging theory.
在不同强化延迟的结果之间进行选择时，大多数理论要求选择由延迟的比率而非它们之间的差异来支配，这一要求也与韦伯定律一致。相反，延迟减少理论和最优觅食理论规定，在本实验条件下，延迟之间的差异而非它们之间的比率控制选择。这一预测通过一种在觅食实验中广泛使用的程序进行评估，在该程序中，鸽子在被提供两种延迟时选择接受或拒绝其中任何一种。在各种条件下，延迟要么相差恒定的量，延迟之间的比率变化，要么相差变化的量，延迟之间的比率恒定。在六个实验中的每一个实验中，较长延迟的接受率仅取决于两种延迟之间的差异，而不取决于它们之间的比率，支持了延迟减少理论和觅食理论。
