Influence of the response/reinforcement ratio on behavioral persistence
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31211/rpics.2024.10.1.337Keywords:
Resistance to Change, Persistence, Reinforcement, Response/Reinforcement Ratio, Experimental studyAbstract
Background : The Behavioral Momentum Theory proposes that behavioral persistence results from the stimulus-stimulus relationship, independent of the response-stimulus relationship. However, recent studies indicate limitations in this theory, suggesting that persistence can be influenced by additional variables not originally considered. Objective: This study investigated persistence as a function of the number of responses emitted per reinforcement obtained, specifically the response/reinforcement ratio (R/SR). Methods: Experiments 1 and 2: University students were exposed to a multiple schedule with three components, each requiring different R/SR ratios. These schedules varied the response requirement for each reinforcement, evaluating persistence under different R/SR conditions. Experiment 3: Participants were exposed to a multiple schedule with three components, where each component operated under a tandem variable-interval fixed-ratio schedule. Different amounts of responses per reinforcement were required in each component. Results: The results indicated that, within the experimental parameters used, the R/SR ratio did not significantly affect behavioral persistence. Conclusions: This study highlights the complexity of variables involved in behavioral persistence and the need to broaden the analysis of these variables. The R/SR ratio is complex and interdependent with other aspects of behavior. Future research should explore the effects of the R/SR ratio on behavioral persistence through a continuous line of investigation, composed of experiments that separately control various behavioral variables. Understanding these interactions could transform the scientific approach to behavioral persistence, allowing for more precise and effective interventions and contributing to significant advances in areas such as education, psychotherapy, and behavior modification.Downloads
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