Abstract
Pigeons were maintained on multiple fixed-ratio schedules with food reinforcement for a keypeck response. A regular pattern of short-short-long-long-etc. was employed for the fixed-ratio sequence within a session. Pausing following reinforcement was shown to be determined by the length of the forthcoming fixed ratio, the relation of this fixed-ratio length to the schedule paired with it, and the place of the fixed ratio in the patterned sequence. The sequential effect indicated shorter pauses for a given fixed ratio when its completion would be followed by the shorter fixed ratio, and longer pausing at the point of transition from a shorter to a longer fixed ratio.
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This research was supported in part by a grant from The City University of New York Faculty Research Program.
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Mintz, D.E. Pausing in multiple fixed- ratio schedules. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 8, 131–134 (1976). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03335104
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03335104