THE SUCCESSIVE DIFFERENTIATION OF A LEVER DISPLACEMENT RESPONSE

Abstract

Maximum displacements of lever presses by rats were recorded under 8 successively-smaller 'reinforcement zones' (RZ). The largest RZ included displacements from 3.29 degrees to 44.01 degrees, the smallest, from 23.65 degrees to 28.74 degrees. Work expended was linearly proportional to displacement. As the RZ decreased, displacement distributions reflected a 'least effort' tendency: distributions peaked at the lower limit of RZ and most nonreinforced presses fell just below the lower limit. Successive distributions differed significantly, showed reduced variability, and indicated more presses, more reinforcements, and more presses per reinforcement. The effect on a given response class was less, relatively, when that class was eliminated from the RZ than it was when a higher response class was eliminated. A modified differentiation procedure was recommended.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 24, 1963
Accession Number
AD0414582

Entities

People

  • Robert M. Herrick

Organizations

  • Naval Air Warfare Center Warminster

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Calibration
  • Displacement
  • Experimental Data
  • Extinction
  • Government Procurement
  • Governments
  • Histograms
  • Intervals
  • Machines
  • Malfunctions
  • Measurement
  • Milling Machines
  • Oscillation
  • Pennsylvania
  • Personality
  • Statistical Tests
  • Training

Fields of Study

  • Psychology

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  • Structural Dynamics.