Abstract
The contribution of the response‐reinforcer dependency to the control of behavior was investigated. Pigeons were trained to key peck under a variable‐interval schedule of reinforcement. With the total number and temporal distribution of reinforcer deliveries in experimental sessions constant, the effects of varying the percentage of response‐independent reinforcement were examined. At different times, 100%, 66%, 33%, 10%, or 0% of the scheduled reinforcers were delivered dependent upon key pecking and the remainder were delivered independently of responding. Response rates were related to the percentage of response‐dependent reinforcement with lower response rates associated with smaller percentages of response‐dependent reinforcement. The results suggest that the response‐reinforcer relation exerts control over behavior in a manner similar to that exerted by other parameters of reinforcement.

This publication has 8 references indexed in Scilit: