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Quantitative Analyses of Choice in Rat and Pigeon

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Abstract

Studies of choice in nonhuman animals that presented concurrent variable-interval variable-interval schedules of reinforcement were quantitatively reviewed. Empirical parameters representing bias and sensitivity in the generalized matching equation were calculated across studies and compared. Undermatching was the most common relationship observed. No consistent bias was shown. An analysis of moderating variables also revealed that the laboratory in which an experiment was conducted, and the year of publication were related to the sensitivity parameter. This reanalysis confirms that a proportional relationship between the ratios of response rates and ratios of reinforcement rates is not an accurate description of concurrent VI VI performance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of New Hampshire, USA

    John K. Robinson

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  1. John K. Robinson
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The author thanks Victor Benassi for helpful suggestions on an early version of the manuscript. The author’s present address is Unit on Behavioral Neuropharmacology, Experimental Therapeutics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Building 10, Room 4N214, Bethesda, MD 20892.

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Robinson, J.K. Quantitative Analyses of Choice in Rat and Pigeon. Psychol Rec 42, 437–445 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03399612

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