Pigeons' demand and preference for specific and generalized conditioned reinforcers in a token economy. 2015

Lavinia Tan, and Timothy D Hackenberg
Reed College.

Pigeons' demand and preference for specific and generalized tokens was examined in a token economy. Pigeons could produce and exchange different colored tokens for food, for water, or for food or water. Token production was measured across three phases, which examined: (1) across-session price increases (typical demand curve method); (2) within-session price increases (progressive-ratio, PR, schedule); and (3) concurrent pairwise choices between the token types. Exponential demand curves were fitted to the response data and accounted for over 90% total variance. Demand curve parameter values, Pmax , Omax and α showed that demand was ordered in the following way: food tokens, generalized tokens, water tokens, both in Phase 1 and in Phase 3. This suggests that the preferences were predictable on the basis of elasticity and response output from the demand analysis. Pmax and Omax values failed to consistently predict breakpoints and peak response rates in the PR schedules in Phase 2, however, suggesting limits on a unitary conception of reinforcer efficacy. The patterns of generalized token production and exchange in Phase 3 suggest that the generalized tokens served as substitutes for the specific food and water tokens. Taken together, the present findings demonstrate the utility of behavioral economic concepts in the analysis of generalized reinforcement.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010856 Columbidae Family in the order COLUMBIFORMES, comprised of pigeons or doves. They are BIRDS with short legs, stout bodies, small heads, and slender bills. Some sources call the smaller species doves and the larger pigeons, but the names are interchangeable. Columba livia,Doves,Pigeons,Domestic Pigeons,Feral Pigeons,Rock Doves,Rock Pigeons,Domestic Pigeon,Dove,Dove, Rock,Doves, Rock,Feral Pigeon,Pigeon,Pigeon, Domestic,Pigeon, Feral,Pigeon, Rock,Pigeons, Domestic,Pigeons, Feral,Pigeons, Rock,Rock Dove,Rock Pigeon
D012055 Reinforcement Schedule A schedule prescribing when the subject is to be reinforced or rewarded in terms of temporal interval in psychological experiments. The schedule may be continuous or intermittent. Reinforcement Schedules,Schedule, Reinforcement,Schedules, Reinforcement
D002755 Choice Behavior The act of making a selection among two or more alternatives, usually after a period of deliberation. Approach Behavior,Approach Behaviors,Behavior, Approach,Behavior, Choice,Behaviors, Approach,Behaviors, Choice,Choice Behaviors
D003216 Conditioning, Operant Learning situations in which the sequence responses of the subject are instrumental in producing reinforcement. When the correct response occurs, which involves the selection from among a repertoire of responses, the subject is immediately reinforced. Instrumental Learning,Learning, Instrumental,Operant Conditioning,Conditionings, Operant,Instrumental Learnings,Learnings, Instrumental,Operant Conditionings
D005793 Generalization, Psychological The phenomenon of an organism's responding to all situations similar to one in which it has been conditioned. Generalization (Psychology),Generalization, Psychology,Generalizations (Psychology),Generalizations, Psychological,Generalizations, Psychology,Psychological Generalization,Psychological Generalizations,Psychology Generalization,Psychology Generalizations
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001070 Appetitive Behavior Animal searching behavior. The variable introductory phase of an instinctive behavior pattern or sequence, e.g., looking for food, or sequential courtship patterns prior to mating. Searching Behavior,Appetitive Behaviors,Behavior, Appetitive,Behavior, Searching,Behaviors, Appetitive,Behaviors, Searching,Searching Behaviors
D014040 Token Economy A practice whereby tokens representing money, toys, candy, etc., are given as secondary reinforcers contingent upon certain desired behaviors or performances. Token Reinforcement,Economy, Token,Economies, Token,Reinforcement, Token,Reinforcements, Token,Token Economies,Token Reinforcements

Related Publications

Lavinia Tan, and Timothy D Hackenberg
July 2014, Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior,
Lavinia Tan, and Timothy D Hackenberg
January 2017, Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior,
Lavinia Tan, and Timothy D Hackenberg
January 1972, Journal of applied behavior analysis,
Lavinia Tan, and Timothy D Hackenberg
April 1977, Exceptional children,
Lavinia Tan, and Timothy D Hackenberg
January 1972, Journal of applied behavior analysis,
Lavinia Tan, and Timothy D Hackenberg
September 2012, Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior,
Lavinia Tan, and Timothy D Hackenberg
January 2000, The Cochrane database of systematic reviews,
Lavinia Tan, and Timothy D Hackenberg
November 1995, Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior,
Lavinia Tan, and Timothy D Hackenberg
February 1970, Mental retardation,
Lavinia Tan, and Timothy D Hackenberg
January 1970, Perspectives in psychiatric care,
Copied contents to your clipboard!