Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Fixed-Interval Responding During Human Computer-Interactive Problem Solving

  • Article
  • Published:
The Psychological Record Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Experiment 1 was designed to investigate student patterns of responding during fixed-interval (FI) 30-s reinforcement. During the experiment, students were able to respond to multiplication problems by typing answers on the keyboard. Correct answers/min were calculated by the computer program and automatically recorded on disk. Following the experiment, students were questioned regarding what they believed to be the best way to earn the money while working problems. Outcomes from the first experiment showed that only one of the five students was dominated by a pause-respond pattern of temporal disparity. This student provided a verbal rule that accurately described the contingenCies associated with FI reinforcement. The other four students in this experiment responded at relatively constant rates in the majority of their intervals and provided verbal descriptions of contingencies suggesting that reinforcement became available only after the completion of a number or a changing number of problems. Experiment 2 replicated the preparations of Experiment 1; however, prior to initiated computerinteractive problem solving, the two subjects were shown the accurate rule generated by the subject in Experiment 1 who had exhibited pause-respond performance. Response patterns produced by these subjects showed conspicuous and consistent patterns of pauserespond throughout all intervals of FI 30-s reinforcement. Experiment 3 was conducted to further assess the possibility that scalloping (or some other pattern) might emerge over an extended series of sessions. Outcomes confirmed that performance patterns did not change significantly over sessions. Moreover, the subjects’ verbal description of programmed contingencies conformed to the pattern of responding they produced. Outcomes are discussed in terms of selfgenerated and socially mediated rule-following.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • BAXTER, G. A., & SCHLINGER, H. (1990). Performance of children under a multiple random-ratio random-interval schedule of reinforcement. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 54, 263–271.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • BENTALL, R. P., & LOWE, C. F. (1987). The role of verbal behavior in human learning: III. Instructional effects in children. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 47, 177–190.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • BENTALL, R. P., LOWE, C. F., & BEASTY, A. (1985). The role of verbal behavior in human learning: II. Developmental differences. Journal of the’ Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 43, 165–181.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CATANIA, A. C. (1992). Learning: Third Edition. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • CATANIA, A. C., SHIMOFF, E., & MATTHEWS, B. A. (1989). An experimental analysis of rule-governed behavior. In S. C. Hayes (Ed.), Rule-governed behavior: Cognition, contingencies, and instructional control (pp. 119–150). New York: Plenum Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • CERUTTI, D. T. (1991). Discriminative versus reinforcing properties of schedules as determinants of schedule insensitivity in humans. The Psychological Record, 41, 51–67.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DECASPER, A. J., & ZEILER, M. D. (1972). Steady-state behavior in children: A method and some data. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 13, 231–239.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DEWS, P. B. (1978). Studies on responding under fixed-interval schedules of reinforcement: II. The scalloped pattern of the cumulative record. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 29, 67–75.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • FERSTER, C. B., & SKINNER, B. F. (1957). Schedules of reinforcement. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • HAYES, S. C., BROWNSTEIN, A. J., ZETTLE, R. D., ROSENFARB, I., & KORN, Z. (1986). Rule-governed behavior and sensitivity to changing consequences of responding. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 45,. 237–256.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • HAYES L. J., DIXON M. R., Caslake D. L., BECKWITH J. L., & SHURR C. S. (1997). Deviations from animal standards in human schedule performances through self-generated verbal behavior. Mexican Journal of Behavior Analysis, 23, 53–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • HAYES, S. C., ZETTLE, R. D., & ROSENFARB, I. (1989). Rule-following. In S. C. Hayes (Ed.), Rule-governed behavior: Cognition, contingencies, and instructional control (pp.191–220). New York: Plenum.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • HYTEN, C., & MADDEN, G. J. (1993). The scallop in human fixed-interval research: A review of problems with data description. The Psychological Record, 43, 471–500.

    Google Scholar 

  • LIPPMAN, L. G., & MEYER, M. M. (1967). Fixed interval performance as related to instructions and to subjects’ verbalization of the contingency. Psychonomic Science, 8, 135–136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • LOWE, C. F. (1979). Determinants of human operant behavior. In M. D. Zeiler & P. Harzem (Eds.), Advances in analysis of behaviour (Vol. 1), Reinforcement and the organization of behaviour. Chichester and New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • LOWE, C. F., BEASTY, A., & BENTALL, R. P. (1983). The role of verbal behavior in human learning: Infant performance on fixed-interval schedules. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 39, 157–164.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • LOWE, C. F., HARZEM, P., & BAGSHAW, M. (1978). Species differences in temporal control of behavior II: Human performance. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 29, 351–361.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • LOWE, C. F., & HORNE, P. J. (1996). Reflections on naming and other symbolic behavior. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 65, 315–340.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • MADDEN, G. J., CHASE, P. N., & JOYCE, J. H. (1998). Making sense of sensitivity in the human operant literature. The Behavior Analyst, 21, 1–12.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • MALOTT, R. W., WHALEY, D. L., & MALOTT, M. E. (1997). Elementary principles of behavior: (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • NINNESS, H. A. C., & NINNESS, S. K. (1998). Superstitious math performance: Interactions between rule-governed and schedule contingencies. The Psychological Record, 48, 45–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • NINNESS, H. A. C., & NINNESS, S. K. (1999). Contingencies of superstition: Selfgenerated rules and responding during second-order response-independent schedules. The Psychological Record, 49, 221–243.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • NINNESS, C., SHORE, T., & NINNESS, S. K. (1999). Shaping and instructing performance descriptions during computer-interactive problem solving. The Psychological Record, 49, 629–644.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ROSENFARB, L S., NEWLAND, M. C., BRANNON, S. E., & HOWEY, D. S. (1992). Effects of self-generated rules on the development of schedule-controlled behavior. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 58, 107–121.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • SLAVIN, R. E. (1997). Educational psychology: Theory and practice (5th ed.). Needham Heights, MA: Allyn and Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • WEINER, H. (1970). Human behavioral persistence. The Psychological Record, 20, 445–456.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • WEISBERG, P., & FINK, E. (1966). Fixed ratio and extinction performance of infants in the second year of life. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 9(2), 105–109.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • WEISBERG, P., & WALDROP, P. B. (1972). Fixed-interval work habits of Congress. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 5, 93–97.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Human Services Department: School & Behavioral Psychology Program, Stephen F. Austin State University, PO Box 13019 SFA Station, 75962, Nacogdoches, TX, USA

    H. A. Chris Ninness, Lisa Ozenne, Glen Mcculler & Robin Rumph

  2. Nacogdoches Independent School District, USA

    H. A. Chris Ninness & Sharon K. Ninness

Authors
  1. H. A. Chris Ninness
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lisa Ozenne
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Glen Mcculler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Robin Rumph
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Sharon K. Ninness
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. A. Chris Ninness.

Additional information

This investigation was supported in part by Stephen F. Austin State University Faculty Research Grant 1-14008. We gratefully acknowledge the helpful comments provided by Cloyd Hyten in the development of this study.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chris Ninness, H.A., Ozenne, L., Mcculler, G. et al. Fixed-Interval Responding During Human Computer-Interactive Problem Solving. Psychol Rec 50, 387–401 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03395362

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03395362

Search

Navigation