Abstract
In order to determine the importance of response effort in operant extinction, albino rats (N = 21) were trained on differentially weighted bars in an operant chamber and then extinguished to a 5 min no-response criterion. By using a recessed bar and by giving substantially greater training than in previous studies, the inverse relationship between response effort and resistance to extinction noted in earlier studies failed to appear.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
AIKEN, E. G. The effort variable in the acquisition, extinction, and spontaneous recovery of an instrumental response. J. exp. Psychol., 1957, 53, 47–51.
CAPEHART, J., VINEY, W., & HULICKA, I. The effect of effort upon extinction. J. comp. physiol. Psychol., 1958, 51, 505–507.
CHUNG, SHIN-HO. Effects of effort on response rate. J. exp. Anal. Behav., 1965, 8, 1–7.
KENDLER, H. H. Basic psychology. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1963.
LEWIS, D. J. Scientific principles of psychology. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1963.
MAATSCH, J. L., ADELMAN, M., & DENNY, M. R. Effort and resistance to extinction of the bar pressing response. J. comp. physiol. Psychol., 1954, 47, 47–50.
MILLER, L. K. Escape from force. Paper presented at the proceedings of the American Psychological Association, Washington, D. C., September, 1967.
MOWRER, O. H., & JONES, H. M. Extinction and behavior variability as functions of effortfulness of task. J. exp. Psychol., 1953, 33, 369–386.
STACHNIK, T. J. A habit-strength analysis of the relationship between response effort and resistance to extinction. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Michigan State University, 1963.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Stachnik, T. The role of response effort in extinction: Much ado about nothing. Psychon Sci 9, 517–518 (1967). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03327867
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03327867