Date of Graduation
2003
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
MA
Committee Chair
Philip N. Chase
Abstract
This experiment examined whether operant blocking could explain instructed behavior’s insensitivity to contingencies. Fourteen subjects were randomly assigned to three groups and trained to respond to a multiple differential reinforcement of low rates 4- seconds/fixed ratio 18 (DRL 4-s/FR18) schedule. Subjects in the Blocking and Unblocking groups received instructions about the optimal response rate. Subjects in the Minimally Instructed group received only general instructions. Arbitrary stimuli correlated with the schedule components were presented to all groups. For the Unblocking group, the introduction of these stimuli was accompanied by a change in reinforcement’s magnitude. Sensitivity and blocking were assessed by reversing first the stimuli-contingencies relation and then the instructions-contingencies relation. Behavior was not affected when the stimuli-contingencies relations were reversed for any of the three groups. When the instruction-contingencies relations were reversed, the behavior of the Unblocking group regained sensitivity faster than behavior of the Blocking group indicating moderate support for a blocking account of insensitivity.
Recommended Citation
Leon, Marta, "An operant blocking account of rule-governed behavior's insensitivity to local contingencies of reinforcement." (2003). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD). 10767.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/10767