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Responding Under Homogeneous Versus Heterogeneous Chained Schedules

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Abstract

Four pigeons responded under chained variable-interval schedules in which the required response topographies were either similar (i.e., a homogeneous chain) or dissimilar (i.e., a heterogeneous chain). The pigeons were exposed to all possible combinations of initial-link key pecking or treadle pressing and terminal-link pecking or treadling. Three of four birds displayed higher initial-link response rates under the homogeneous chains. These results were explained in terms of an induction effect in which the strengthening effect of reinforcing a particular terminal-link response topography generalizes to similar responses earlier in the chain but not to topographically different responses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, 49008, USA

    Stephen P. Starin

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  1. Stephen P. Starin
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Additional information

These data were part of a master’s thesis submitted to the faculty of The Graduate College at Western Michigan University.

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Starin, S.P. Responding Under Homogeneous Versus Heterogeneous Chained Schedules. Psychol Rec 37, 69–77 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03395874

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