"Discriminative Functions of Schedule Stimuli and Memory: A Combination . . ." by D. Alan Stubbs, Susan J. Vautin et al.

Psychology Faculty Scholarship

Document Type

Article

Title

Discriminative Functions of Schedule Stimuli and Memory: A Combination of Schedule and Choice Procedures

Authors

D. Alan Stubbs, University of Maine
Susan J. Vautin, University of Maine
Howard M. Reid, University of Maine
Denis L. Delehanty, University of Maine

Publication Title

Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior

Rights and Access Note

This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. In addition, no permission is required from the rights-holder(s) for non-commercial uses.

Publication Date

1978

First Page

167

Last Page

180

Issue Number

Volume Number

Abstract/ Summary

Pigeons responded under a combination brief-stimulus schedule and choice procedure. Normally, a fixed-interval schedule was in effect, where completion randomly produced either a brief stimulus or food. Intermittently, this schedule was interrupted by a choice arrangement. Two choice keys were lit, either a short or a long time since a prior event (food or stimulus). One choice response produced food if the time had been short, and the alternate response produced food if the time had been long. Across conditions, the duration of the fixed-interval schedule was varied, the stimuli that comprised the brief-stimulus operation were changed, and the stimuli were presented as paired and nonpaired with food. The focus of the study was the control of both schedule performance and choice responding across conditions. The results showed that choice accuracy was correlated with the degree of fixed-interval curvature, the response pattern of a pause followed by a gradually accelerated rate. As fixed-interval schedule duration was increased, both the degree of fixed interval curvature and choice accuracy decreased. The particular brief stimulus used affected schedule and choice performance, with a more salient stimulus producing a greater degree of curvature and higher accuracy. Pairing and non-pairing operations produced striking differences in performance with the less salient brief stimulus, but not with the more salient stimulus. The results suggest that brief-stimulus schedule performance may be conceptualized in the context of memory research.

Repository Citation

Stubbs, D. Alan; Vautin, Susan J.; Reid, Howard M.; and Delehanty, Denis L., "Discriminative Functions of Schedule Stimuli and Memory: A Combination of Schedule and Choice Procedures" (1978). Psychology Faculty Scholarship. 32.
https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/psy_facpub/32

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Stubbs, D. A., Vautin, S. J., Reid, H. M., & Delehanty, D. L. (1978). Discriminative functions of schedule stimuli and memory: a combination of schedule and choice procedures. Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior, 29(2), 167–180. https://doi.org/10.1901/jeab.1978.29-167