Abstract
Multiple shifts in reward amount were given to rats in a straight runway. Both positive and negative contrast effects were observed. A positive contrast effect was observed, however, only if the shift from small to large reward occurred while the subject was evidencing a negative contrast effect. Implications for current conceptions of reinforcement contrast are discussed.
References
Amsel, A. The role of frustrative nonreward in noncontinuous reward.Psychological Bulletin, 1958,55, 102–119.
Amsel, A. Frustrative nonreward in partial reinforcement and discrimination learning: Some recent history and theoretical extensions.Psychological Review, 1962,69, 306–328.
Amsel, A. Partial reinforcement effects on vigor and persistence: Advances in frustration theory derived from a variety of within-subject experiments. In K. W. Spence & J. T. Spence (Eds.).The psychology of learning and motivation (Vol I) New York: Academic Press, 1967, Pp. 1–65.
Amsel, A., &Roussel, J. Motivational properties of frustration: I. Effect on a running response of the addition of frustration to the motivational complex.Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1952,43, 363–368.
Benefield, R., Oscos, A., &Ehrenfreund, D. Role of frustration in successive positive contrast.Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1974,86, 648–651.
Black, R. W. Shifts in magnitude of reward and contrast effects in instrumental and selective learning: A reinterpretation.Psychological Review, 1968,75, 114–126.
Calef, R. C. The effect of large and small magnitude of intertrial reinforcement on successive contrast effects.Psychonomic Science, 1972,29, 309–312.
Capaldi, E. J. Successive negative contrast effect: Intertrial interval, type of shift, and four sources of generalization decrement.Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1972,98, 433–438.
Capaldi, E. J. Partial reward either following or preceeding consistant reward: A case of reinforcement level.Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1974,102, 954–962.
Capaldi, E. J., &Lynch, D. Repeated shifts in reward magnitude: Evidence in favor of an associational and absolute (non contextual) interpretation.Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1967,75, 226–235.
Crespi, L. P. Quantitative variations in incentive and performance in the white rat.American Journal of Psychology, 1942,55, 467–517.
Dunham, P. J. Contrasted conditions of reinforcement: A selective critique.Psychological Bulletin, 1968,69, 295–315.
Ehrenfreund, D. The effect of drive on successive magnitude shifts in rats.Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1971,76, 418–423.
Gonzales, R. C., Gleitman, H., &Bitterman, M. E. Some observations on the depression effect.Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1962,55, 578–581.
Ludvigson, H. W., &Gay, S. E. Differential reward conditioning: S− contrast as a function of the magnitude of S +.Psychonomic Science, 1966,5, 289–290.
McCain, G., &Cooney, J. PCE: I. The effects of three reward magnitude shifts.Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society, 1975,6, 523–526.
Mellgren, R. L. Positive and negative contrast effects using delaved reinforcement.Learning and Motivation, 1972,3, 185–193.
Meyer, P. A., &McHose, J. H. Facilitative effects of reward increase: An apparent “elation effect”.Psychonomic Science, 1968,13, 165–166.
Shanab, M. E., Sanders, R., &Premack, D. Positive contrast in the runway obtained with delay of reward.Science, 1969,164, 724–725.
Shanab, M. E., &White, R. Positive contrast obtained with punishment.Journal of General Psychology, 1972,86, 247–251.
Surridge, C. T., Boehneri, J., &Amsel, A. The effect of interpolated extinction on the reacquisition of partially and continuously rewarded responses.Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1966,72, 564–570.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Maxwell, F.R., Calef, R.S., Murray, D.W. et al. Positive and negative successive contrast effects following multiple shifts in reward magnitude under high drive and immediate reinforcement. Animal Learning & Behavior 4, 480–484 (1976). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03214443
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03214443
Keywords
- Large Reward
- Reward Magnitude
- Positive Contrast
- Small Reward
- Significant Group Effect