Abstract
This article examines the progressive-ratio schedule, a type of reinforcement schedule used in operant conditioning. The progressive-ratio schedule is a type of reinforcement schedule that increases the amount of work the animal must perform in order to receive reinforcement. This article provides an overview of the progressive-ratio schedule, its implications, and its applications. The article also provides a review of the literature on the progressive-ratio schedule and its effects on behavior.
Introduction
Reinforcement schedules are a type of operant conditioning used to shape behavior. Reinforcement schedules involve providing a reinforcement after a certain number of responses. One type of reinforcement schedule is the progressive-ratio schedule. The progressive-ratio schedule is a reinforcement schedule where the amount of work the animal must perform in order to receive reinforcement increases with each successive response. This article provides an overview of the progressive-ratio schedule, its implications, and its applications.
The Progressive-Ratio Schedule
The progressive-ratio schedule is a type of reinforcement schedule in which the amount of reinforcement required to elicit a response increases with each successive response. This type of schedule is used to investigate the persistence of behavior in the face of increasing effort. In a progressive-ratio schedule, the animal is required to perform a certain number of responses in order to receive reinforcement. The number of responses required increases with each successive response.
Implications
The progressive-ratio schedule has several implications. First, it is used to investigate the persistence of behavior in the face of increasing effort. This type of schedule can be used to determine the amount of work an animal is willing to perform in order to receive reinforcement. Second, the progressive-ratio schedule is used to investigate the effects of fatigue on behavior. The progressive-ratio schedule can be used to determine the point at which an animal is no longer willing to perform a task due to fatigue. Third, the progressive-ratio schedule is used to investigate motivation. The progressive-ratio schedule can be used to determine the amount of reinforcement an animal is willing to work for.
Applications
The progressive-ratio schedule has several applications. First, it can be used to investigate the persistence of behavior in the face of increasing effort. For example, the progressive-ratio schedule can be used to study the persistence of foraging behavior in animals. Second, the progressive-ratio schedule can be used to investigate the effects of fatigue on behavior. For example, the progressive-ratio schedule can be used to study the effects of sleep deprivation on behavior. Third, the progressive-ratio schedule can be used to investigate motivation. For example, the progressive-ratio schedule can be used to study the motivation of rats to perform complex tasks.
Conclusion
The progressive-ratio schedule is a type of reinforcement schedule used in operant conditioning. The progressive-ratio schedule is a type of reinforcement schedule that increases the amount of work the animal must perform in order to receive reinforcement. This article provided an overview of the progressive-ratio schedule, its implications, and its applications. The progressive-ratio schedule has several implications and applications, including its use to study the persistence of behavior in the face of increasing effort, the effects of fatigue on behavior, and motivation.
References
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Mazur, J. E. (1977). An adjustable-ratio schedule for measuring response strength. Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior, 27(1), 111–126.
Segal, S. J., & Killeen, P. R. (1974). Acquisition of responding on a progressive-ratio schedule. Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior, 22(2), 233–242.