Dembo M, De Penfold J B, Ruiz R, Casalta H
Universidad Central de Venezuela, Laboratorio de Análisis Experimental de la Conducta, Apartado 47563. Los Chaguaramos, Caracas 1041, Venezuela.
Behav Processes. 1985 Mar;10(3):241-8. doi: 10.1016/0376-6357(85)90071-3.
Four pigeons were trained to peck a key under different values of a temporally defined independent variable (T) and different probabilities of reinforcement (p). Parameter T is a fixed repeating time cycle and p the probability of reinforcement for the first response of each cycle T. Two dependent variables were used: mean response rate and mean postreinforcement pause. For all values of p a critical value for the independent variable T was found (T=1 sec) in which marked changes took place in response rate and postreinforcement pauses. Behavior typical of random ratio schedules was obtained at T 1 sec and behavior typical of random interval schedules at T 1 sec.
