Abstract
In a two-shift experiment, four independent groups of thirsty rats were delayed 20 sec before receiving the following treatments: LLL, LSL, SSS, SLS, with each letter denoting the magnitude of water reward received in each of the three phases of the experiment. Both a significant positive contrast effect (PCE) and a negative contrast effect (NCE) were obtained following the first shift. Weaker contrast effects were found in the second shift. The present results support and extend the generality of previous findings of studies using shifts in magnitude of food reward with superimposed delay as a control for ceiling effects.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Barnes, W., & Tombaugh, T. N. Another failure to obtain negative incentive contrast following reductions in sucrose reward. Psychological Reports, 1973, 33, 801–802.
Benefield, R., Oscos, A., & Ehrenfreund, D. Role of frustration in successive positive contrast. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1974, 86, 648–651.
Bower, G. H. A contrast effect in differential conditioning. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1961, 62, 196–199.
Capaldi, E. J. A sequential hypothesis of instrumental learning. In K. W. Spence & J. T. Spence (Eds.), The psychology of learning and motivation (Vol.1). New York: Academic Press, 1967. Pp. 67–156.
Capaldi, E. J. Successive negative contrast effect: Intertrial interval, type of shift, and four sources of generalization decrement. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1972, 96, 433–438.
Cox, W. M. A review of recent incentive contrast studies involving discrete-trial procedures. The Psychological Record, 1975, 25, 373–393.
Crespi, L. P. Quantitative variations of 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.
Ferrell, H. J., & Shanab, M. E. Contrast effects as a function of shifts in delay of water reward. Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society, 1975, 5, 417–420.
Flaherty, C. F., Riley, E. P., & Spear, N. E. Effects of sucrose concentration and goal units on running behavior in the rat. Learning and Motivation, 1973, 4, 163–175.
Ison, J. R., & Rosen, A. J. Extinction and reacquisition performance as a function of sucrose-solution rewards and number of acquisition trials. Psychological Reports, 1968, 22, 375–379.
Mellgren, R. L. Positive and negative contrast effects using delayed reinforcement. Learning and Motivation, 1972, 3, 185–193.
Rosen, A. J. Incentive shift performance as a function of magnitude and number of sucrose rewards. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1966, 62, 487–490.
Sgro, J. A., & Weinstock, S. Effects of delay on subsequent running under immediate reinforcement. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1963, 66, 260–263.
Shanab, M. E. Positive transfer between nonreward and delay. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1971, 91, 98–102.
Shanab, M. E., Birnbaum, D. W., & Cavallaro, G. Positive contrast obtained following interpolation of non-reinforced or partially reinforced trials. Learning and Motivation, 1974, 5, 258–271.
Shanab, M. E., & Cavallaro, G. Transfer between non-reward and delay of reward following minimal acquisition training. Animal Learning & Behavior, 1973, 1, 179–182.
Shanab, M. E., Domino, J., & Melrose, S. The effects of shifts in delay of liquid sucrose reward in thirsty rats. Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society, 1977, 10, 287–290.
Shanab, M. E., France, J., & Young, T. Positive and negative contrast effects obtained following shifts in liquid sucrose reward in thirsty rats. Animal Learning & Behavior, 1976, 4, 9–12.
Shanab, M. E., Sanders, R., & Premack, D. Positive contrast in the runway obtained with delay of reward. Science, 1969, 164, 724–725.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Reprint requests should be sent to Mitri E. Shanab
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shanab, M.E., Spencer, R.E. Positive and negative contrast effects obtained following shifts in delayed water reward. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 12, 199–202 (1978). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03329670
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03329670