Abstract Many studies have investigated how variability in animal behavior is induced by different reinforcement schedules. However, the animal species and experimental settings have varied between these studies. The present study investigated the variability of pigeons’ pecking location to operandum under fixed-ratio, fixed-interval, variable-ratio, and variable-interval schedules. A circular response area that was 22.4 cm in diameter was used so that the pecking responses would be effective over a wide range. Pigeons were exposed to a multiple-ratio yoked-interval schedule; the pairs of schedules were fixed-ratio and fixed-interval or variable-ratio and variable-interval. We used a Bayesian statistical approach to probabilistically evaluate the effects of reinforcement schedules on the variability. Bayesian statistical analysis showed the following: (1) interval schedules provided greater variability than did the ratio schedules under the same interreinforcement intervals, (2) fixed schedules provided greater variability than did variable schedules for both the ratio and interval schedule requirements, (3) the larger schedule requirement generated greater variability under the fixed schedules but this effect was not observed on the variable schedules, and (4) the variability did not change as time elapsed in each trial. These results suggested that each reinforcement schedule has a specific effect on the variability of the response location.

中文翻译：

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比率和间隔时间表对鸽子啄食反应位置变异性的影响：贝叶斯统计模型的应用

摘要 许多研究调查了不同强化计划如何引起动物行为的变异性。然而，这些研究之间的动物物种和实验环境有所不同。本研究调查了在固定比率、固定间隔、可变比率和可变间隔计划下鸽子啄食位置对操作的可变性。使用直径为 22.4 厘米的圆形响应区域，以便啄食响应在较宽的范围内有效。鸽子被暴露在多比率的轭间隔计划中；时间表对是固定比率和固定间隔或可变比率和可变间隔。我们使用贝叶斯统计方法来概率评估强化计划对可变性的影响。贝叶斯统计分析表明：（1）在相同的强化间隔下，间隔时间表比比率时间表提供了更大的可变性，（2）固定时间表比可变时间表提供了比可变时间表更大的可变性，（3）较大的时间表要求在固定时间表下产生更大的可变性，但在可变时间表上未观察到这种影响，并且（4）可变性不会随着每次试验的时间推移而改变。这些结果表明，每个强化计划对响应位置的可变性都有特定的影响。(2) 对于比率和间隔进度要求，固定进度比可变进度提供更大的可变性，(3) 在固定进度下，更大的进度要求产生更大的可变性，但在可变进度上没有观察到这种影响，以及 (4)在每次试验中，变异性不会随着时间的推移而改变。这些结果表明，每个强化计划对响应位置的可变性都有特定的影响。(2) 对于比率和间隔进度要求，固定进度比可变进度提供更大的可变性，(3) 在固定进度下，更大的进度要求产生更大的可变性，但在可变进度上没有观察到这种影响，以及 (4)在每次试验中，变异性不会随着时间的推移而改变。这些结果表明，每个强化计划对响应位置的可变性都有特定的影响。