Semester
Summer
Date of Graduation
2001
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
MA
College
Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Psychology
Committee Chair
Kennon A. Lattal.
Committee Co-Chair
Michael Perone
Committee Member
Cheryl McNeil
Abstract
Procrastination has been defined as the choice of a larger, later work requirement over a smaller, sooner work requirement. In one experiment (Mazur, 1996), pigeons chose a later-onset work requirement over an earlier-onset work requirement when work requirements were identical and reinforcement was at an equal delay from the choice point. In Phase I of the present experiment, reinforcement was delivered to pigeons immediately upon completion of either an early- or a late-onset work requirement in the terminal links of a concurrent-chains schedule. The early-onset work requirement was preferred. This preference held in Phase 2, when a delay to reinforcement was added, following completion of the early-onset work requirement. These results suggest that when work requirements produce more immediate reinforcement, relative to the choice point, they will be preferred, even when there is a shorter delay to their onset.
Recommended Citation
Meginley, Megan Elizabeth, "Effects of reinforcement delays on procrastination in pigeons" (2001). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 708.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/708