Abstract
In Experiment 1, three groups of rats were given magazine training with either a 30-sec or a 120-sec average interval between reinforcers (drops of water). An extinction test indicated that there was little difference in the stimulus control of dipper-approach responses established by the two schedules. In Experiment 2, rats given magazine training with either the 30-sec or the 120-sec spacing learned to barpress about equally readily. The results question the efficiency of using long intervals between reinforcers in magazine training.
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This research was supported in part by a faculty minigrant from the State University College of Arts and Science, State University of New York, Plttsburgh, New York. We wish to thank James Miner and Linda Deering for their assistance with the subjects, and Dr. Peter Hornby for his helpful comments on the manuscript.
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Morlock, H., Stunkel, L. & Waldman, K. Spacing of reinforcer delivery and effectiveness of magazine training. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 23, 521–523 (1985). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03329872
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03329872