Pigeons' preference for free choice: number of keys versus key area
dc.contributor.author | Cerutti, Daniel | |
dc.contributor.author | Catania, A. Charles | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2024-08-27T20:37:50Z | |
dc.date.available | 2024-08-27T20:37:50Z | |
dc.date.issued | 1997-11 | |
dc.description.abstract | In concurrent-chains schedules, pigeons prefer terminal links that provide two keys correlated with reinforcers (free choice) over those that provide only one key (forced choice), terminal-link reinforcement rates being equal. With same-size keys, free choice provides a larger area available for pecking. Preferences were examined using terminal links that differed in key number only (one or two) or key size only (small and medium or medium and large), or that equated the area of the two free-choice keys with that of the forced-choice key. Medium (standard) keys were typically preferred to small keys, but indifference was typically obtained between medium and large keys. The size preference usually overrode free-choice preference with one medium key pitted against two small keys, but free-choice preference was reliably observed with one large key pitted against two medium keys. In other words, preferences were a joint function of key number and key area, implying that free-choice preference is not reducible to preference for larger key areas. Free-choice preference requires separate keys rather than larger areas; the relevant behavioral units are the discriminated operants correlated with each terminal-link key rather than classes defined by topographical features such as area or perimeter. | |
dc.description.sponsorship | Research supported by NSF Grant BNS82-03385 and PHS Grant MH-37256 to the University of Maryland Baltimore County. We thank Melissa Hanrahan, Rachel Burchard, and Deisy G. de Souza for their helpful contributions to the research. | |
dc.description.uri | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9375386/ | |
dc.format.extent | 8 pages | |
dc.genre | journal articles | |
dc.identifier | doi:10.13016/m2h3dr-n0cj | |
dc.identifier.citation | Cerutti, Daniel, and A. Charles Catania. “Pigeons’ Preference for Free Choice: Number of Keys versus Key Area.” Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior 68, no. 3 (November 1997): 349–56. https://doi.org/10.1901/jeab.1997.68-349. | |
dc.identifier.uri | https://doi.org/10.1901/jeab.1997.68-349 | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11603/35781 | |
dc.language.iso | en_US | |
dc.publisher | Wiley | |
dc.relation.isAvailableAt | The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) | |
dc.relation.ispartof | UMBC Faculty Collection | |
dc.relation.ispartof | UMBC Psychology Department | |
dc.rights | This item is likely protected under Title 17 of the U.S. Copyright Law. Unless on a Creative Commons license, for uses protected by Copyright Law, contact the copyright holder or the author. | |
dc.subject | Animals | |
dc.subject | Columbidae | |
dc.subject | Reinforcement Schedule | |
dc.subject | Discrimination Learning | |
dc.subject | Conditioning, Operant | |
dc.subject | Choice Behavior | |
dc.subject | Male | |
dc.subject | Motivation | |
dc.subject | Orientation | |
dc.title | Pigeons' preference for free choice: number of keys versus key area | |
dc.type | Text | |
dcterms.creator | https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0507-8707 |