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The Effect of Blackout Duration and Number of Responses on Pause Length in Fixed-Ratio Schedules

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Abstract

The present study compares postreinforcement pause lengths following large and small fixed-ratio schedules when the interreinforcement intervals for the two ratios were approximately equal. Blackouts followed each unreinforced response in each ratio. Interreinforcement intervals were equated by using long blackouts with the small ratio and short blackouts with the large ratio. The postreinforcement pause was longer on the ratios requiring the largest number of responses. These results indicate that the number of interreinforcement responses affects postreinforcement pause length under fixed-ratio schedules.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Drake University, Des Moines, IA, 50311, USA

    Larry A. Alferink

  2. St. Cloud State University, USA

    Dennis L. Nunes

  3. Utah State University, USA

    Edward K. Crossman

Authors
  1. Larry A. Alferink
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  2. Dennis L. Nunes
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  3. Edward K. Crossman
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Alferink, L.A., Nunes, D.L. & Crossman, E.K. The Effect of Blackout Duration and Number of Responses on Pause Length in Fixed-Ratio Schedules. Psychol Rec 30, 531–537 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03394704

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03394704

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