Abstract
Four pigeons responded on a two-component multiple token-reinforcement schedule, in which tokens were produced according to a random-interval 30-sec schedule and exchanged according to a variable-ratio 4 schedule in both components. To assess the effects of contingent token loss, tokens were removed after every second response (i.e., fixed-ratio 2 loss) in one of the components. Response rates were selectively lower in the loss components relative to baseline (no-loss) conditions, as well as to the within-condition no-loss components. Response rates were decreased to a greater degree in the presence of tokens than in their absence. To control for the effects of changes in the density of token and food reinforcement, two parts consisted of additional conditions where food density and token loss were yoked to those in a previous loss condition. In the yoked-food condition, tokens were produced as usual in both components, but the overall density of food reinforcement in one of the components was yoked to that obtained during a previous token-loss condition. In the yoked token-loss condition, tokens were removed during one component of the multiple schedule at a rate that approximately matched the obtained rate of loss from a previous token-loss condition. Response rates in these yoked components were less affected than those in comparable loss components, despite similar densities of token, exchange, and food reinforcement. On the whole, the results support the conclusion that contingent token loss serves as an effective punisher with pigeons.
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This research was supported by NSF Grants SES 998242 and IBN 0420747. Portions of these data have been presented at annual conferences for the Southeastern Association for Behavior Analysis in October 2004 and the Association for Behavior Analysis in May 2004 and May 2007. We thank Anthony DeFulio and Rachelle Yankelevitz for their assistance with this research, and Jesse Dallery for providing feedback on an earlier draft of the manuscript.
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Raiff, B.R., Bullock, C.E. & Hackenberg, T.D. Response-cost punishment with pigeons: Further evidence of response suppression via token loss. Learning & Behavior 36, 29–41 (2008). https://doi.org/10.3758/LB.36.1.29
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/LB.36.1.29