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Cited by 272Behavioral and Psychological StudiesNeural and Behavioral Psychology StudiesNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

Operant variability: Evidence, functions, and theory

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Neuringer, Allen·2002·Psychonomic Bulletin & Review
DOI 10.3758/bf03196324
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Abstract

Although responses are sometimes easy to predict, at other times responding seems highly variable, unpredictable, or even random. The inability to predict is generally attributed to ignorance of controlling variables, but this article is a review of research showing that the highest levels of behavioral variability may result from identifiable reinforcers contingent on such variability. That is, variability is an operant. Discriminative stimuli and reinforcers control it, resulting in low or high variability, depending on the contingencies. Schedule-of-reinforcement effects are orderly, and choosing to vary or repeat is lawfully governed by relative reinforcement frequencies. The operant nature of variability has important implications. For example, learning, exploring, creating, and problem solving may partly depend on it. Abnormal levels of variability, including those found in psychopathologies such as autism, depression, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, may be modified through reinforcement. Operant variability may also help to explain some of the unique attributes of voluntary action.

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  • One can only remember so much information, but what one does with that memory presumably depends on reinforcement contingencies and other factors.

    “This captures the idea that one can only remember so much information, but it is distinct from what one does with that memory, which presumably depends on reinforcement contingencies and other factors (Glimcher, 2005; Neuringer, 2002).”

    From DYNAMIC RESPONSE-BY-RESPONSE MODELS OF MATCHING BEHAVIOR IN RHESUS MONKEYS (2005) · cites this paper as Neuringer, 2002

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Research works printed but not linked: 18

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  3. Boren, J. J., Moerschbaecher, J. M., & Whyte, A. A. (1978). Vari- ability of response location on fixed-ratio and fixed-interval sched- ules of reinforcement. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Be- havior, 30, 65-67.
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  13. Peterson, I. (1997). The jungle of randomness: A mathematical safari. New York: Wiley.
  14. Roots, C. (2000). A spoonful of fish food helps the repetition go down: Reinforcing variability in Betta splendens. Unpublished undergradu- ate thesis, Reed College.
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  16. Stephens, D. W., & Krebs, J. R. (1986). Foraging theory. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
  17. Wells, M. (1999). Teaching an old rat new tricks: The effects of age on behavioral variability. Unpublished undergraduate thesis, Reed Col- lege.
  18. Wilson, N. (1986). Standards for deviation: Tools for reinforcing vari- ability. Unpublished undergraduate thesis, Reed College.

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Authors
Neuringer, A.
Affiliations
Reed College (US)
Corresponding author
Neuringer, Allen
Venue
Psychonomic Bulletin & Review
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2002-12
Volume
9
Issue
4
Pages
672-705
ISSN
  • 1069-9384 (ISSN-L)
  • 1531-5320
DOI
10.3758/bf03196324
OpenAlex
W2145998391
Cited by
272
References
208
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 25 · 2012: 21
FWCI
1.65
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations
  • Psychonomic Bulletin & Review (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Science Foundation
  • Reed College
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
behavioral variability, discriminative stimulus, reinforcement contingencies, reinforcement schedules, reinforcement frequency, operant behavior, learning, exploration, problem solving, autism spectrum disorder, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, voluntary action
MeSH terms
Analysis of Variance, Animals, Association Learning, Awareness, Behavior Therapy, Conditioning, Operant, Humans, Motivation, Reinforcement Schedule, Species Specificity

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