Modification of a response bias through differential amount of reinforcement.

Abstract

A procedure is described for assessing response bias to either the form or color dimension of a compound standard stimulus. Responding was assessed under conditions of equal reinforcement (three tokens) for responding to either the form or color dimension. Under these conditions, the four male subjects (aged 7 to 11 yr) differentially responded to the form dimension. After a bias was assessed, the number of tokens delivered contingent upon form responses was reduced. After a reversal in differential responding, the equal-reinforcement condition was reintroduced. Two of the subjects returned to their initial response bias when equal reinforcement for either dimensional response was reintroduced, and two maintained the reversal established during the differential-reinforcement phase. For the latter two subjects, differential reinforcement was again imposed, in favor of form. This partial replication reinstated their original pattern of response bias.