The Effects of Varying Degrees of Shock Predictability on Variable-Interval Performance for Food Reinforcement
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Bowling Green State University / OhioLINK
1971
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| Online Access: | http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1554464085301346 |
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ndltd-OhioLink-oai-etd.ohiolink.edu-bgsu15544640853013462021-08-03T07:10:08Z The Effects of Varying Degrees of Shock Predictability on Variable-Interval Performance for Food Reinforcement Rasbury, Wiley C. Psychology Current research suggests that predictable aversive events produce less behavioral and physiological disruption than unpredictable ones. The purpose of the present study was to investigate this hypothesis by parametric manipulation of the predictability dimension. Predictability was manipulated by varying the number of aversive events in a situation which were preceded by a signal. Five treatment groups were employed. The treatment conditions were superimposed on an operant baseline (variable-interval food reinforcement for bar pressing). Two dependent variables were employed to assess behavioral disruption: total session response rate suppression and response rate suppression to the signal presentations. Total session response rate suppression was expected to increase as predictability decreased. Conversely, response rate suppression to the signal presentations was expected to decrease as predictability decreased. The results of the study, with respect to the total session suppression, were inconsistent with the stated hypotheses. Suppression to the signal presentations was in the predicted direction. Although several explanations were offered for the pattern of total session response rate suppression which occurred, an information-theory interpretation provided the most appropriate explanation of the data. However, there was a qualitative difference in the form of information that was provided to the various conditions. This qualitative difference was viewed as a limitation with respect to the applicability of the information-theory interpretation. The signal suppression data was discussed in terms of high "stimulus density" which may have facilitated unwanted suppression in several conditions. Finally, it was suggested that failure to confirm the stated hypotheses may have been the result of the failure of inhibitory conditioning of fear to develop. 1971 English text Bowling Green State University / OhioLINK http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1554464085301346 http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1554464085301346 unrestricted This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws. |
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NDLTD |
| language |
English |
| sources |
NDLTD |
| topic |
Psychology |
| spellingShingle |
Psychology Rasbury, Wiley C. The Effects of Varying Degrees of Shock Predictability on Variable-Interval Performance for Food Reinforcement |
| author |
Rasbury, Wiley C. |
| author_facet |
Rasbury, Wiley C. |
| author_sort |
Rasbury, Wiley C. |
| title |
The Effects of Varying Degrees of Shock Predictability on Variable-Interval Performance for Food Reinforcement |
| title_short |
The Effects of Varying Degrees of Shock Predictability on Variable-Interval Performance for Food Reinforcement |
| title_full |
The Effects of Varying Degrees of Shock Predictability on Variable-Interval Performance for Food Reinforcement |
| title_fullStr |
The Effects of Varying Degrees of Shock Predictability on Variable-Interval Performance for Food Reinforcement |
| title_full_unstemmed |
The Effects of Varying Degrees of Shock Predictability on Variable-Interval Performance for Food Reinforcement |
| title_sort |
effects of varying degrees of shock predictability on variable-interval performance for food reinforcement |
| publisher |
Bowling Green State University / OhioLINK |
| publishDate |
1971 |
| url |
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1554464085301346 |
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AT rasburywileyc theeffectsofvaryingdegreesofshockpredictabilityonvariableintervalperformanceforfoodreinforcement AT rasburywileyc effectsofvaryingdegreesofshockpredictabilityonvariableintervalperformanceforfoodreinforcement |
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