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| #192 International Poster Session – EAB |
| Sunday, May 30, 2004 |
| 12:00 PM–1:30 PM |
| Exhibit Hall D (Hynes) |
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| 85. A Test of a Blocking Procedure in an Animal Model of Activity Anorexia |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| W. DAVID PIERCE (University of Alberta), Ann Marie Biondo (University of Alberta), Donald C. Heth (University of Alberta), James C. Russell (University of Alberta) |
| Abstract: The present experiment asked whether the pairing of novel food (cat treats) with wheel running would block the usual suppression of familiar food intake (lab chow) induced by physical activity during activity anorexia (AA). Rats received 90-min access to novel food followed by 22.5 h of access to running wheels (novel-wheel, N=8) or no wheel running (novel-no wheel, N=8) for 3 consecutive days. Next, rats received 90-min of access to both novel and familiar food for 4 more days; half the rats continued to have access to wheels while the others remained without wheels. Results showed that wheel running increased over days and that body weights of novel-wheel animals declined while the weights of novel-no wheel rats leveled off; novel-wheel rats consumed less novel food than those in the novel-no wheel group for days 1 to 3. Novel food intake dropped and did not differ between the novel-wheel and novel-no wheel conditions for days 4 through 7. For this same period, intake of familiar food (and total food intake) was reduced in the novel-wheel condition. Overall, there is no evidence of blocking in an AA procedure; results support previous research on the suppressive effect of wheel running on food intake. |
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| 86. Preference and Fixed-Ratio Changeover Requirements |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| EMILY OTERO (University of Guadalajara, Mexico), Carlos F. Aparicio (University of Guadalajara, Mexico) |
| Abstract: Our work with rats has shown that preference adapts rapidly to a dynamic environment where seven pairs of probabilities (.27-.01, .25-.03, .21-.07, .14-.14, .07-.21, .03-.25, and .01-.27) are used to arrange seven components of reinforcement in two levers. The present study utilized the same environment to assess the effect of an increasing fixed-ratio changeover requirement on preference. Each component provided 50 dependently scheduled reinforcers in two main-levers. A changeover-lever required 1, 4, 8, 16, or 32 responses to alternate between the main-levers. For twenty days the same component remained in effect with one fixed-ratio changeover requirement. After that, a different component was randomly selected to operate with the next fixed-ratio changeover requirement. All fixed-ratios were assessed across components in ascendent and descendent orders. For some conditions, a different fixed-ratio was required every 10 reinforcers within the same session. Sensitivity to reinforcement increased with an increasing changeover response requirement, but it also increased with experience in the dynamic environment. The roles of steady state behavior and history of reinforcement on choice behavior will be discussed. |
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| 87. Effect of Relative Reinforcer Duration on Choice under Different Absolute Rates of Reinforcement |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| JOAO CLAUDIO TODOROV (Universidade Católica de Goiás, Brazil), Elenice Seixas Hanna (University of Brazil), Thais Andreozzi (University of Brazil), Patricia Finageiv (University of Brazil), Luciana Bayeh (University of Brazil) |
| Abstract: Five pigeons were submitted to concurrent variable interval, variable interval schedules with equal relative reinforcement frequencies but unequal relative reinforcement duration. In the first eight experimental conditions absolute reinforcement rate was changed from 360 to 2 programmed reinforcements per hour, with unequal relative reinforcer duration kept constant. Replications were conducted in an irregular order in the last eight conditions. The response key associated with the larger reinforcer duration was alternated after each of the sixteen experimental conditions. Absolute reinforcement frequency had no systemmatic effect on response distribution between the schedules, but bias effects were observed in the data from some subjects. |
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| 88. Effects of Shared and Non-Shared Consequences on the Choice Between Individual and Social Contingencies in Partial Altruism Conditions of Exchange in Adults |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| NORA RANGEL (University of Guadalajara, Mexico), Emilio Ribes Iñesta (University of Guadalajara, Mexico), Hector Hernandez (University of Guadalajara, Mexico), Alejandra Zaragoza Scherman (University of Guadalajara, Mexico) |
| Abstract: Four dyads of college students (20 to 23 year-old) solved a visual puzzle on a computer screen. In the experimental conditions each subject in every dyad could track the performance of his/her peer and also place pieces in the peer’s puzzle. Dyads were exposed to two baseline sessions and then to a sequence of two experimental conditions: 1) partial altruism with non-shared consequences, in which each participant had a counter that registered his/her own earnings; 2) partial altruism with shared consequences, in which earnings produced for both participants in one session were registered in one common counter (at the end of the session the points were divided among each member of the dyad. In all the experimental conditions subjects could choose to solve their puzzle individually instead of working additionally on the peer’s puzzle. All dyads showed effects of the exposition to shared consequences at different times in the experiment. Results are analyzed in terms of the exposition to different kinds of consequences (shared and non-shared). |
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| 89. The Effects of Reinforcer Magnitude on Demand for Food in Australian Brushtail Possums |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| CATHERINE E. SUMPTER (University of Waikato, New Zealand), Therese Mary Foster (University of Waikato, New Zealand), William Temple (University of Waikato, New Zealand), Mizuho Osugi (University of Waikato, New Zealand), Joann R. Martin (University of Waikato, New Zealand), Jennifer Chandler (University of Waikato, New Zealand) |
| Abstract: Previous research has showed that possums' preference among, and demand for, differing food types were inversely related. That is, initial demand was lower when the possums responded on fixed-ratio schedules for the most preferred food. However, it was unclear whether this finding was directly a result of preference or whether it was related to the different amounts of each food that could be obtained during each reinforcement. The present experiment examined possums' demand for differing amounts of the same food under fixed-ratio schedules by varying reinforcer access time across conditions. The results are discussed in regard to what is known about the relation between response rates and reinforcer magnitude in simple fixed-ratio schedule performance. |
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| 90. Carbon Dioxide Challenge Procedures in Experimental Contexts: An Analysis of Variables Predicting Premature Subject Discontinuation and Drop Out |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| DEAN ACHESON (State University of New York at Albany), Velma Barrios (State University of New York at Albany), John P. Forsyth (State University of New York at Albany) |
| Abstract: Biological challenge procedures are commonly used to induce panic and to examine how persons differ with respect to fear over the resulting panicogenic symptoms. That is, most of these studies have involved showing that challenge-induced responses discriminate between patient samples and patient samples vs. normal controls. More recently, experimental psychopathologists have begun using challenge procedures to address fundamental questions pertaining to the definition and classification of panic attacks, as a means to identify risk factors involved in the ontogenesis of panic, and in the development of laboratory models of panic and anxiety. Nonetheless, a significant proportion of the subjects undergoing such procedures will drop out. This results in decreased productivity and lost subject hours for laboratories using this method. An analysis of four recently completed studies within our laboratory utilizing 20% CO2-enriched air inhalations showed a combined dropout rate of 9%, or a loss of 129 subject hours. The aim of the current paper is to identify individual difference variables that may put subjects at a higher risk for discontinuing the procedure. Implications of these data will be discussed in the context of developing more effective prescreening procedures to minimize the probability incomplete or lost data resulting from premature termination. |
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| 91. Activity Anorexia: Role of Food Novelty and Conditioned Taste Aversion in Reducing Food Intake |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| AMY K. DRAYTON (Eastern Michigan University), James T. Todd (Eastern Michigan University) |
| Abstract: Activity anorexia (AA) is a phenomenon in which the reinforcement value of exercise increases and the reinforcement value of food decreases. The result is that rats will continue to exercise more and eat less until they die of starvation unless the pattern is interrupted. The excessive wheel running that occurs in AA has been said to produce sickness in rats, which results in a conditioned taste aversion (CTA) to the food eaten just prior to exercise. The purpose of this study is to examine whether CTA is a factor in AA rats using a single-subject multi-element design. This study differs from similar studies by: a) directly assessing potential aversion to the food in the anorexia context, rather than aversion to flavors not used in the wheel running context, b) attempting to separate the effects of food novelty from the potential effects of CTA, and c) employing a single subject rather than group methodology. |
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| 92. A Simulation Study of Aversive Stimuli in the Route-Finder Model |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| JAIME ROBLES (Virginia Commonwealth University) |
| Abstract: A new simulation for the route-finder model by Reid and Staddon (1998) is carried out, introducing modifications on the learning mechanism of the original model. This model has been used for spatial navigation in different learning situations. An extensive simulation work combined with a sistematic test of diferent values within the parametric space, gives new insights about the model's performance and future applications. The main finding of the study regards the incorporation of aversive stimuli in the simulated environment. |
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| 93. Can Pigeons Count? - Analysis of Numerical Control of Behavior Using a Peak Procedure |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| ANTHONY DEFULIO (University of Florida), Timothy D. Hackenberg (University of Florida) |
| Abstract: Key pecks produced food according to both a fixed-interval (FI) 24s schedule of reinforcement and a fixed-number (FN) 12 schedule in which the first peck after the twelfth in a series of events (flashes of light) produced food. Key colors served as schedule-correlated stimuli. Intertrial intervals followed each reinforcer delivery. Flashes occurred at fast, medium, and slow rates during both FI and FN trials, for a total of six trial types. Trials were blocked within each session such that 10 of each trial type occurred consecutively for a total of 60 trials per session. Order of trial types was randomized across sessions. Within each block of trials, eight trials terminated with reinforcer delivery and two trials continued for 100 seconds and terminated without reinforcer delivery (empty trials). Peak rates of responding on empty trials were used as indices of temporal or numerical control. Results indicate no effect of flash rate on performance during FI trials, and differential performance across different flash rates on FN trials. The subjects were exposed to additional conditions in which flash rate changed within trials, and in which particular flashes were omitted. The additional conditions provide further evidence of numerical control for some subjects. |
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| 94. Derived Relationships within Samples and Targets in a Stimulus Equivalence Task |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| STEPHEN PROVOST (Southern Cross University), Michael B. Piotrowicz (University of Newcastle) |
| Abstract: Stimulus equivalence refers to the emergence of derived relationships between stimuli in a matching to sample task showing the characteristic features of equivalence (reflexivity, symmetry and transitivity). In Experiment 1, six out of nine participants showed clear evidence for stimulus equivalence in a three-item symbolic matching to sample task. In Experiment 2 we examined whether participants would tend to match members of the same set of targets and samples from training, if an equivalence target was not available. This kind of derived relationship was demonstrated by three out of six participants. There did not appear to be any advantage for cues serving as both targets and samples, but performance was highest for the group of cues which had most recently been targets. Only one participant out of six in this experiment showed evidence for stimulus equivalence on subsequent test, suggesting that learning takes place during the testing process, despite the absence of objective feedback. These data are more easily accommodated within relational frame theory, and we speculate that this behaviour may be related to the kinds of processes which, for example, allow foreign language listeners to identify the language in which words are spoken without any knowledge of their meaning. |
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| 95. Human Transitive Inference using Verbal and Nonverbal Procedures |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| ADAM H. DOUGHTY (University of Kansas), Dean C. Williams (University of Kansas), Kathryn Saunders (University of Kansas) |
| Abstract: After being told that “Alan is taller than Brad, and Brad is taller than Carl,” a person shows transitive inference by stating that “Alan is taller than Carl.” Transitive inference in humans typically involves the use of such verbal procedures. Recently, however, there has been an interest in the study of human transitive inference using nonverbal procedures because of reports of transitive inference in nonhuman animals (e.g., pigeons). The present research involved humans responding under both verbal and nonverbal transitive inference procedures. The verbal procedures were similar to the example provided above. The nonverbal procedures resembled those used with animals. Initial training involved two-choice simultaneous discriminations in which there were several overlapping pairs of stimuli (e.g., A+B-, B+C-, C+D-, and D+E-). Probes then included pairs of stimuli that did not occur together during training (e.g., BD). Results are shown from individual subjects exposed to both the verbal and nonverbal procedures. |
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| 96. Exclusion and Stimulus Class Formation after a Baseline of All-Visual and Many-to-One Conditional Discriminations |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| CLAUDIA K.B. OSHIRO (Federal University of Sao Carlos, Brazil), Aline Roberta Aceituno Costa (Federal University of Sao Carlos, Brazil), Tatiana Gaia (Federal University of Sao Carlos, Brazil), Deisy das Garcas De Souza (Federal University of Sao Carlos, Brazil) |
| Abstract: Responding by "Exclusion" is typically observed when a research participant views an array of choices (e.g., pictures) in which just one of them has not yet been related to a spoken name. When a new undefined sample is spoken, participants immediately select the undefined comparison item without explicit training to do so. Research on exclusion usually establishes a baseline of one-to-one conditional discriminations, such that a dictated name (the sample) corresponds to one and only one picture. The present study asked two questions: 1) whether establishing multiple correspondences (multiple samples for each comparison and vice-versa) would interfere with responding by exclusion; 2) whether responding by exclusion would hold with a baseline of all visual- conditional discriminations. Exclusion procedures were used with normally developing children. The behavioral baseline relations were complex, including teaching the participants that one picture could be related to up to three different pictures and vice-versa. All participants showed exclusion and equivalence despite 1) the more complex behavioral baselines; 2) the all-visual baselines. Overall, the present results indicate that exclusion does not depend on the baseline’s one-to-one and auditory-visual features.(Research supported by Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo - FAPESP and CNPq- Brazil) |
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| 97. Comparison of an Instructional Situation in Different Linguistic Modes with School Children and University Students |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| MARÍA ANTONIA PADILLA VARGAS (University of Guadalajara, Mexico), Idania Zepeda (University of Guadalajara, Mexico), Maria Luisa Avalos Latorre (University of Guadalajara, Mexico), Carlos Martinez Munquia (University of Guadalajara, Mexico), Julio Varela (University of Guadalajara, Mexico), Sucel Moran (University of Guadalajara, Mexico) |
| Abstract: Forty-eight schoolchildren and forty-eight university students were exposed to an instructional situation, the linguistic mode of which varied across six different experiments: 1) reading a text printed on paper, 2) reading a text with illustrations printed on paper, 3) reading a text presented on a computer screen, 4) reading a text with illustrations presented on a computer screen, 5) listening to a tape, and 6) listening to a tape and observing illustrations presented on a computer screen. The thematic content was the same for the experimental groups and varied for the control groups. The design consisted of a pretest, a training phase, and a post-test. The items of the pretest and post-test corresponded to various kinds of abilities: basic, applied, and theoretical. A comparison of the behavior of the participants is presented. |
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| 98. An Updated Look at Interobserver Agreement |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| DONALD R. KARR (University of Nevada, Reno), W. Larry Williams (University of Nevada, Reno), Michele R. Bishop (University of Nevada, Reno), Michele D. Wallace (University of Nevada, Reno) |
| Abstract: Behavior analysts typically rely upon multiple observers to assess the integrity of their data. Although mechanical means of data collection might reduce or eliminate most data collection problems, current technology does not obviate the use of human observers to assess complex human behaviors in multiple settings. The current requirement for an index of interobserver agreement (IOA) in behavior analysis reports appears to have institutionalized a nearly ritualistic procedure in reporting IOA. Currently, we are virtually assured that a journal article will include a report of the number of agreements as a percentage of the number of agreements plus disagreements. Further, the commonly accepted minimum percentage is a fixed 80 percent. Most of the research into IOA was conducted in an era before programmable calculators, personal computers, laptop computers and palm pilots were commonplace. The current study was prompted by the notion that an updated look at IOA, in light of currently available technology, might lead to improvements in our ability to assess IOA. Observer agreement is not equivalent to observer accuracy. Early reports on assessing IOA did not include discussions of observer accuracy, although it was assumed that consensus between observers led to a valid inference of data accuracy. Our approach was to take a step backward and to analyze the effects of observer accuracy on the data collection process and the reported index of IOA. Results indicate that observer accuracy, among other variables, plays a significant role in both the design of the data collection process as well as the reported index of IOA. |
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| 99. An Experimental Analysis of Tertiary Conditioned Reinforcement as Applied in Various Animal Training Practices |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| MARY E. HUNTSBERRY (James Madison University), Sherry L. Serdikoff (James Madison University), Kayce Cover (Syn Alia Animal Systems) |
| Abstract: The current study is concerned with training methods used with animals. In clicker training (CT), a secondary conditioned reinforcer (sound of the clicker) is trained then used to shape desired responses by reinforcing successive approximations. Like CT, bridge and target (BT) training involves shaping behavior using conditioned reinforcement. However, BT training expands the use of operant conditioning by including discriminative stimuli (targets) introduced early in training and tertiary conditioned reinforcers (intermediate bridges, IB’s) while behaviors are being performed. In BT training, once the discriminative stimulus is presented and the animal begins performing the correct response, the IB is presented in a steady stream that varies in intensity and speed according to the performance of the animal. Trainers have claimed that BT training facilitates more effective and faster learning in animals and the current study empirically tests this claim. Rats are trained to lever-press using a standard shaping procedure or using a procedure that includes an intermediate bridge and once they are responding reliably each will be trained to perform additional responses. Differences in the rates of acquisition for the initial and subsequently trained responses are evaluated in order to provide empirical validation of the claims regarding BT training. |
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| 100. A Delay Discounting Procedure in Gambling and Non-Gambling Contexts with Pathological Gamblers |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| SCOTT SANDERS (Southern Illinois University), Mark R. Dixon (Southern Illinois University), Eric A. Jacobs (Southern Illinois University) |
| Abstract: The purpose of this poster is to demonstrate the degree to which contextual variables contribute to the rate of delay discounting in pathological gamblers. We utilized a delay discounting task within-subjects whereby pathological gamblers initially completed the procedure within a gambling context and later in another non-gambling context. It appears that the difference of context and the associated establishing operations may alter the subjective value of delayed rewards, and therefore change the discounting rates of compulsive gamblers. These data add additional support to the growing literature of delay and probability discounting in problem or pathological gamblers. Implications for a behavioral analysis of gambling are discussed. |
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| 101. Conversational Aspects of Driving: Measuring the use of Cell Phone Conversation and Upper Level Processing on Driver Performance |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| HUGH KIMBEL (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University), Christopher B. Robinchaux (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University) |
| Abstract: With cellular phones becoming more ubiquitous, studies have also increased in number, showing everything from a lack of visual attention during driving (Strayer, Drews, & Johnston 2003) to finding no difference in driver distraction between hand-held and hands-free cell phones (Matthews, Legg, & Charlton 2003). Undeniably, cell phones present a distracting aspect to driving in some form or another, yet the specific aspect of the cell phone conversation correlated with the type of cell phone used has yet to be studied.
The current research proposes to use a between-subjects design to study the effects of form of conversation the participant is subjected to (hand-held, hands-free, passenger) related to the type of processing the participant must undergo while listening to a story (listening to a story with no contingency on paying attention vs. listening to story with a contingency on paying attention). Attention will likely vary with the contingencies while physical distracters will likely vary with the type of conversation involved in. Participants will run a three separate three minute runs on a driving simulator provided by Systems Technology Inc. |
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| 102. Functions Describing the Discounting of Delayed Contingencies in a Venezuelan Context |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| JOANNA ANEZ (University of Central Venezuela), Veronica Calderaro (University of Central Venezuela), Graciela Gasch (University of Central Venezuela), Cristina Vargas-Irwin (University of Central Venezuela) |
| Abstract: This study attempts to identify and compare the fitting of the exponential and hyperbolic discounting functions and the discount rates of delayed contingencies in a reward and a cost conditions in a Venezuelan context, and to know if there are differences in the fitting and in the discount rates due to the university career, gender, socioeconomic level and labor experience. The study was carried out with 64 undergraduate college students (Psychology and Economy mayors).
We used a version of the Hypothetical Money Choice Taskdeveloped by Murphy, Vuchinich and Simpson (2001). The participants chose between smaller immediate and larger delayed hypothetical monetary amounts. A set of these choices determined the immediate amount subjectively equivalent to delayed amount, that is, the Equivalence Point, which was used to estimate the fitting of the functions and the discount rates. The coefficients of determination (R2) showed that the hyperbolic function described delayed discounting better than the exponential function, resulting in a better fit for the cost condition than for the reward condition. A greater discount rate was observed in the reward condition than in the cost condition. Once again the exponential devaluation was not sustained by behavioral data as a descriptive function of delayed contingencies. |
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| 103. Inter-trial Interval Food Effects on Responding in Three-link Chain Schedules |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| MATTHEW C. BELL (Santa Clara University), Margaret A. McDevitt (McDaniel College) |
| Abstract: Pigeons were exposed to two equal three-link chain schedules. Each link was a variable-interval schedule. Chains were separated by a 30-s intertrial interval bisected by 3-s access to food. After baseline training, terminal links were presented alone in a successive discrimination designed to devalue one of the terminal links: responses to one terminal link continued to be reinforced while responses to the other were extinguished. Subjects were then returned to the full chain schedule which was presented in extinction with response-independent transitions from the terminal link (all other transitions remained response-dependent). Food continued to be delivered during the intertrial interval. There was minimal differential effect on response rate of the devaluation manipulation. Initial-link responding dropped to approximately 80% of baseline. Middle-link responding dropped to approximately 60% of baseline. No systematic or differential decrease in responding for the initial and terminal links was observed across 28 sessions, despite the fact that the only available food was presented at the midpoint of the intertrial interval. Responding during the terminal link did drop considerably across sessions and there was a small effect of the devaluation procedure. It is hypothesized that the 15-s delayed food in the intertrial interval maintained responding to the chain schedule. |
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| 104. An Experinmental Examination of Timing and Adjunctive Behavior on DRL-LH Schedules |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| JILL SKARVAN (Illinois Wesleyan University), Lauren Waidzunas (Illinois Wesleyan University), James D. Dougan (Illinois Wesleyan University) |
| Abstract: In recent years, the study of timing behavior has become an increasingly important part of behavior analysis. A number of theories have been proposed to account for animal’s ability totime short intervals. One such theory, The Behavioral Theory of Timing (BeT, Killeen and Fetterman, 1988) argues that the timing of short intervals is mediated by collateral/adjunctive behavior. While numerous studies have supported the predictions of BeT, the majority of those have been correlational, measuring a statistical relationship between adjunctive behavior and timing performance. The present experiments take an experimental approach, by manipulating the availability and probability of adjunctive behavior. Rats responded on a series of DRL limited-hold procedure, subjects must wait a certain time interval before responding - early responses are not reinforced and reset the clock. The opportunity for adjunctive behavior was manipulated by providing a chew block in some conditions but not in others. The results relate to previousstudies from our lab, which found that the presence of a chewblock may interfere with timing behavior by causing the rat to wait too long and thus invoke the limited hold contingency. |
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| 105. Type S and Type R Controlling Relations in the Simple Discrimination of Capuchin Monkeys (Cebus Apella) |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| OLAVO GALVAO (Federal University of Para, Brazil), Paulo R. K. Goulart (Federal University of Para, Brazil), Mariana Mendonca (Federal University of Para, Brazil), Romariz Barros (Federal University of Para, Brazil), William J. McIlvane (E.K. Shriver Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School) |
| Abstract: Identifying the aspects of stimuli to which the subject attends is a critical problem for stimulus control research in analyses of matching to sample and other discrimination procedures. At least two types of controlling relations – Type S and Type R - might develop during discrimination training. In Type S relations, the subject attends to some aspect(s) of the positive stimulus (S+) and selects it on that basis. In Type R relations, by contrast, the subject attends to some aspect(s) of the negative stimulus (S-), explicitly rejects S-, and responds to S+ on that basis. Type S and Type R relations have been demonstrated often with human children and adults. By contrast, nonhumans have often failed to exhibit Type R (but not Type S) relations in discrimination procedures. Studies of exclusion suggest Type R control, but exclusion can also result from a Type S relation (i.e., relating novel sample and comparison stimuli). In sum, current evidence for Type R relations in nonhumans is sparse and much of it may be open to other interpretations. Here, controlling relations in the simple discrimination performances of capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) were studied in two experiments using a blank-comparison procedure. The main goal was to determine whether monkeys would (a) select an S+ stimulus if another stimulus was substituted for the S- (indicating a Type S controlling relation) and (b) reject an S- if another stimulus was substituted for S+ (indicating a Type R controlling relation). In Experiment 1, two simple simultaneous discriminations were established, one of which was reversed repeatedly until rapid reversal learning was exhibited. During subsequent probe tests, some behavior was consistent with Type S and Type R controlling relations, but there was also substantial variability. To control the variability, the procedures of Experiment 2 were designed to establish Type S and Type R relations directly by training with the blank-comparison procedure. On subsequent probe trials, new stimuli were substituted for the blank comparison. Both animals exhibited consistent, reliable Type S and Type R controlling relations. These experiments are the first to employ the blank-comparison procedure with nonhuman subjects. They also demonstrate a reliable method for generating Type S and Type R controlling relations for experimental study. (Supporting Agencies CNPq, NIH) |
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| 106. Good Classwork Game: A Pilot Study |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| DIPTI MUDGAL (University of Southern Mississippi), Heather Sterling-Turner (University of Southern Mississippi), Ron P. Edwards (University of Southern Mississippi) |
| Abstract: The purpose of this poster is to discuss the data-based outcomes of an experiment conducted in a second grade elementary classroom. The experiment was designed to increase work completion and accuracy (math) and decrease off-task behaviors of a male student. The intervention used was an academic expansion to the widely established Good Behavior Game (GBG). Information pertaining to the theoretical bases, teacher training, implementation, design, results, limitations, and future implications for research of the intervention (Good Classwork Game) will also be presented in the poster. |
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| 107. Can Key-Peck Rate in Pigeons be Viewed as Engagement Bouts? |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| J. ADAM BENNETT (University of North Carolina at Wilmington), Raymond C. Pitts (University of North Carolina at Wilmington) |
| Abstract: It has been argued that overall response rate might not provide the most effective description of schedule-controlled operant behavior within an experimental session and that a more detailed analysis might prove beneficial. Using a log-survivor analysis, Shull et al. (2001) found that schedule-controlled nose-poking by rats can be separated into two components: rate of bout-initiations and within-bout response rate. The purpose of the present study was to extend the log-survivor analysis to schedule-controlled key-pecking in pigeons. Preliminary results suggest that overall response rate in pigeons under a multiple RI 1-min RI 4-min is not easily separated into the two components found with nose-poking in rats. This analysis might prove useful in classifying drug effects on schedule-controlled key-pecking behavior in pigeons. |
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| 108. Do Shared Discriminative-stimulus Functions Lead to Stimulus Equivalence? |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| KIRSTY MACIVER (University of North Texas), Manish Vaidya (University of North Texas) |
| Abstract: The goal of this line of research was to shed light on the relations between functional and equivalent classes of stimuli. Specifically, we asked whether stimuli that shared stimulus functions in one context would also become interchangeable in a conditional discrimination procedure – an outcome consistent with the definition of stimulus equivalence. Adult humans were exposed to simple discrimination training in which subjects were taught to emit three different responses in the presence of three different groups of stimuli (each group consisted of three stimuli). These training blocks (of nine trials) alternated with testing blocks (of 18 trials) in which conditional discrimination trials were presented using the same nine stimuli. Every correct response was reinforced during the simple discrimination training while no programmed consequences were delivered during the conditional discrimination task. Would the shared stimulus functions lead to stimulus equivalence? Preliminary data show that once stimuli began to share a common stimulus function in the context of a simple discrimination task, that they also became interchangeable within the context of a conditional discrimination task. As the interchangeability is characteristic of more typical equivalence procedures, we concluded that shared discriminative function was sufficient to produce equivalence classes. |
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| 109. A Yoked-chamber Comparison of Resistance to Change in Concurrent and Multiple Schedules |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| TAKEHARU IGAKI (Keio University, Japan), Takayuki Sakagami (Keio University, Japan) |
| Abstract: One of the important differences between concurrent and multiple schedules is the switching of component schedules. In concurrent schedules, subject controls the switching of component schedules, whereas in multiple schedules experimenter controls the switching of component schedules. This procedural difference may have some effect on resistance to change. To examine this possibility, a yoked-comparison of resistance to change in concurrent and multiple schedules was conducted using the procedure of Killeen (1972). Two pigeons were trained on concurrent schedules arranged using a changeover-key procedure in one chamber, and two pigeons were trained on multiple schedules in the second chamber. The stimulus presentations and the availability of reinforcement in the multiple-schedule chamber were yoked to those in the concurrent-schedule chamber. After baseline performance was stable in both chambers, resistance to change was measured by prefeeding and extinction. The results indicated that matching and resistance to change are independent of the availability of switching between component schedules. The findings are compared to the results of our previous study which examined resistance to change in concurrent schedules with two-key and changeover-key procedures. |
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| 110. The Effect of a Variable Sized Schedule of Reinforcement with Human Subjects |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| RODNEY L. KLEIN (Concord College), Karen H. Griffee (Concord College), Robert Astur (Yale University), Chris J. Kast (Concord College), Jenny Michelle Lake (Concord College) |
| Abstract: Previous research in our laboratory has demonstrated that there is no difference in response acquisition rate when rats receive either 1, 2, or 3 reinforcers for an operant response when compared to receiving 2 reinforcers for each response. However, these different reinforcement schedules do seem to produce different extinction rates. The current pair of experiments examined the effect that this variable sized schedule of reinforcement has on operant conditioning and extinction with human subjects. Group Variable received either 1, 2, or 3 "credits" for each correct response while Group Fixed received 2 "credits" for each correct response. Both the rate of acquisition and extinction were examined for both groups. |
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