Abstract
Five pigeons pecked lighted keys for food reinforcers delivered by a multiple variable-time 30-sec variable-time 2-min schedule. The duration of the components varied from 5 sec to 16 min. The rate of responding generated by the more favorable component schedule decreased as component duration increased to an intermediate value and then increased with additional increases in duration. The decrease confirmed a prediction of additive theories of behavioral contrast. The rate of responding generated by the less favorable component did not increase as component duration increased. This decrease may represent a floor effect or it may violate a prediction of one additive theory of contrast.
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Mcsweeney, F.K. Responding on a multiple variable-time variable-time schedule as a function of component duration. Animal Learning & Behavior 5, 203–206 (1977). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03214079
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03214079