BEHAVIORAL CONTRAST AND RELATIVE REINFORCEMENT FREQUENCY IN TWO MULTIPLE SCHEDULES1

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Abstract
After preliminary variable‐interval training, one group of pigeons was trained on a series of multiple variable‐interval low‐rate reinforcement schedules, while another group was trained on a series of multiple variable‐interval fixed‐ratio reinforcement schedules. Contrast effects were observed as variable‐interval baseline rate changed in a direction away from the change in reinforcement frequency in the other component. The effects of the variable‐interval component on performance in the low‐rate and fixed‐ratio reinforcement components in the multiple schedules were assessed by comparing the birds' performances on each of these schedules alone. Fixed‐ratio reinforcement schedules showed a susceptibility to contrast effects, low‐rate reinforcement schedules did not. The rate of reinforcement in fixed‐ratio schedules at which no interaction occurred in the multiple schedules was higher than that in variable‐interval 1‐min schedules, suggesting that pigeons may prefer time‐based, rather than response‐based, reinforcement.

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