Differential reinforcement of low rates: A selective critique.

Abstract

The literature relevant to the differential reinforcement of low rates of responding (DRL) is reviewed with respect to measurement of the behavior, bursts of responding, sequential dependencies, extinction and reconditioning, comparative aspects, punishment, reinforcement of two interresponse times, amount of deprivation and reinforcement, behavioral contrast, stimulus generalization, and response generalization. This review suggests that (a) bursts of responding could be due to a lack of stimulus feedback, (6) similar interresponse times tend to follow each other, (c) the development of mediating behavior is correlated with responding which is more appropriate to the schedule contingencies, and (d) subjects "preferred" short interresponse times. The shape of the stimulus generalization gradients after training on a DRL schedule is either peaked, flat, or inverted depending on the schedule value and prior training. Studies loosely concerned with response generalization suggest that responding under this schedule may be qualitatively different from responding under a variable-interval schedule. Experimental approaches for investigating the possible inhibitory and/or aversive properties of differential reinforcement are indicated. 225 1970 by the American Psychological Association, Inc.

On the magnitude of reinforcement and fixed-ratio behavior

“…et al (1974) work and others is that the Lowe et al subjects were presented with all levels of the inde· pendent variable in each session. Given that magnitude of reinforcement effects tend to be sensitive to the frequency of presentation of the different conditions (Kramer & Rilling, 1970), it seems reasonable to suggest that the Lowe et al results may be specific to the experimental design used in their study. Thus, the present study inquires as to whether the "unconditioned inhibitory effect" of reinforcement noted by Lowe and his co-workers would be found when performance was examined after prolonged exposure to each treatment condition.…”

Effects of signaled reward in instrumental conditioning: Enhanced learning on DRL and DRH schedules of reinforcement

“…EXPERIMENT 1 Experiment 1 explored the effects of signaled reward in a DRL schedule of reinforcement (see, e.g., Kramer & Rilling, 1970). We should note that both the overshadowing and efficiency hypotheses predict a lower rate of responding for the correlated subjects relative to the random animals.…”

Development of Temporally Spaced Responding in Relation to Schedule Value in Rats

“…Many studies have been reported on this operant schedule with relatively short time values (20 seconds or less). It is known that by repeating the training under DRL, response rate decreases, median interresponse time (IRT) increases, and an IRT distribution pattern with a peak at around the schedule value gradually becomes prominent (Kramer & Rilling, 1970). This patterning is known as the temporal response pattern, which illustrates a timing process of animals (Sidman, 1959 hour were averaged over session 21 to 30 for each rat and plotted on log-log axes as a function of DRL values in Fig.…”