Abstract
The between- and within-subjects partial reinforcement effect (PRE) was studied in 24 hooded rats with either one or two levers present in the test chamber. The between-groups analysis resulted in a conventional PRE for both one-and two-lever groups, but the effect of one vs. two levers was not significant. The within-subjects analysis yielded a significant reversed PRE (higher responding to the CRF stimulus). An analysis of errors in the two-lever groups yielded the following: (1) During acquisition, CRF produced fewer errors than PRF both between and within subjects, (2) within-subjects training yielded better discrimination than between-groups training, (3) during extinction, there was a large increase in errors in the between- and within-subjects CRF condition, and (4) the percent errors during extinction were greater with CRF than PRF in the within-subjects comparison, but not in the between-groups comparison.
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Adams, J.F., Nemeth-Coslett, R. & Pavlik, W.B. Between-and within-subjects partial reinforcement effects as a function of response alternatives. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 21, 54–56 (1983). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03329953
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03329953