Cited by 2,281Behavioral and Psychological StudiesNeural and Behavioral Psychology StudiesNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

RELATIVE AND ABSOLUTE STRENGTH OF RESPONSE AS A FUNCTION OF FREQUENCY OF REINFORCEMENT 1, 2

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Herrnstein, R. J.·1961·Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior

Abstract

pigeons behave on a concurrent schedule under which they peck at either of two response-keys. The signifi-cant finding of this investigation was that the relative frequency of responding to each of the keys may be controlled within narrow limits by adjustments in an in-dependent variable. In brief, the requirement for rein-forcement in this procedure is the emission of a mini-mum number of pecks to each of the keys. The pigeon receives food when it completes the requirement on both keys. The frequency of responding to each key was a close approximation to the minimum re-quirement. The present experiment explores the relative fre-quency of responding further. In the earlier study it was shown that the output of behavior to each of two keys may be controlled by specific requirements of out-puts. Now we are investigating output as a function of frequency of reinforcement. The earlier experiment may be considered a study of differential reinforcement; the present one, a study of strength of response. Both experiments are attempts to elucidate the properties of rdlative frequency of responding as a dependent vari-able.

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Crossref · 10.1901/jeab.1961.4-267

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  • The strict matching law equates the relative number of choices to the relative reinforcer frequency.

    “The strict matching law equates these two quantities; the relative number of choices matches the relative reinforcer frequency (Herrnstein, 1961).”

    From DYNAMIC RESPONSE-BY-RESPONSE MODELS OF MATCHING BEHAVIOR IN RHESUS MONKEYS (2005) · cites this paper as Herrnstein, 1961

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Authors
Herrnstein, R. J.
Affiliations
Harvard University (US)
Corresponding author
Herrnstein, R. J.
Venue
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
Publisher
Wiley
Published
1961-07
Volume
4
Issue
3
Pages
267-272
ISSN
  • 0022-5002 (ISSN-L)
  • 1938-3711
OpenAlex
W2135886642
Cited by
2,281
References
7
Citations by year
2026: 36 · 2025: 47 · 2024: 37 · 2023: 40 · 2022: 48 · 2021: 68 · 2020: 54 · 2019: 69 · 2018: 73 · 2017: 64 · 2016: 62 · 2015: 61 · 2014: 75 · 2013: 92 · 2012: 67
FWCI
10.75
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Behavioral and Psychological Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
Keywords
concurrent schedules, differential reinforcement, pigeons, pecking behavior, independent variables
MeSH terms
Learning, Reinforcement, Psychology

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